The study reveals links between disturbed geochemical environment being the result of mining and smelting activities with consumers exposure to toxic and carcinogenic metallic trace elements (MTEs). This study focused on evaluation on vegetable and soil pollution in family allotment gardens (FAGs), considering in the aspects of consumer exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc. Study material consisted of 219 soil samples from FAGs located in one of the most polluted areas in Poland, and 64 samples of edible plants. Contents of analyzed MTEs in topsoil in the studied area were spatially diversified and depended primarily on the location of industrial pollution sources. The average content of cadmium (0.52 mg kg⁻¹fresh weight) and lead (0.57 mg kg⁻¹fresh weight) in vegetables exceeded maximum permissible concentrations according to the European Quality Standards. Human health risk assessment was based on three scenarios of dietary exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc. In every scenario the highest average daily dose for all three elements was estimated for potatoes which are one of the main components of Poles’ diet. Presented study showed that consumption of vegetables cultivated in FAGs located in Silesia Province may pose a significant health risk for their consumers.

Tattoos and permanent makeup involve intradermal pigment deposition and may introduce toxic trace elements into the body. Despite increasing popularity, harmonized EU regulations on tattoo ink composition only came into force in 2022 under REACH. This study evaluated the chemical safety of 41 commercially available inks in the EU following the implementation of these restrictions. Twelve heavy metals were analyzed (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Sb, Se, Mn). Copper showed the highest concentrations (mean 1751 mg/kg; max 25,701 mg/kg), while cadmium was lowest (mean 0.13 mg/kg). Exceedances of EU limits were recorded for Ni (24 samples), As (20), Cr(VI) (16), Cu (10), Sb (8), Co (6), and Pb (5); mercury was not detected in any ink. Dermal exposure was modeled across three tattooing scenarios using SED, MoS, HQ, and LCR indicators. Unacceptable non-cancer risk (MoS < 100) was mainly associated with copper (up to 85.4% of products), with additional concerns for zinc and arsenic (~50% of samples in higher-use scenarios). HQ values > 1 were most frequent for Ni, Cr(VI), and Cu, affecting up to 68.3%, 43.9%, and 58.5% of inks, respectively. Lifetime cancer risk above 1 × 10⁻⁴ was observed for nickel in several products. Despite recently tightened European regulations, a substantial share of inks remains non-compliant and may pose carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks, underscoring the need for continued market surveillance and enforcement.

Introduction and objective: Health hazards caused by environmental exposure to lead is of concern in many places in the world. Lead is particularly harmful to young children who could be also exposed to lead in-utero through exposure of their mothers before pregnancy. There is no level of...

The purpose of this study was to assess and compare selected parameters of drinking water quality monitored by state authorities and compare with water from individual ground wells not subject to official control, as well as to assess the exposure of the studied area inhabitants to nitrates, taking into account the method of treatment for the water supply. The study collected well water samples from 52 randomly selected households in Rybnik county located in south-western Poland. Nitrate concentration was determined in the tested water samples using the DR 3900 spectrophotometer. The lowest determined concentration of nitrate was; the average value was – 41.2 mg/L. This publication estimates the potential risk to human health due to consumption of drinking water from public water systems and private shallow wells in Rybnik County, Poland. In the case of well water samples HQ value was greater than 1 in 50% of samples in case of children exposure, in 40% in case of teenagers exposure and 33% in case of adults.

Objectives: Cadmium is an important environmental health risk factor for inhabitants of the Upper Silesia, Poland. Due to the cultivation of food crops in cadmium-contaminated soils of agricultural fields, home gardens and allotment gardens in the Silesian Region, the problem of exposure to...