Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was studied?
This study investigated the extent, sources, and potential health risks of heavy metal contamination in urban soils of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The research aimed to quantify the concentration of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in topsoil samples collected from industrial, commercial, and residential zones. The study forms part of the UAE’s growing environmental risk assessment literature, especially critical for the Heavy Metal Tested and Certified (HTMC) program, which seeks to bridge scientific findings with regulatory soil and product safety standards.
The research adopted a multi-analytical geochemical and risk-assessment approach, integrating Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for metal quantification, and several indices such as the Geoaccumulation Index (I_geo), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). Spatial distribution mapping using GIS further identified contamination hotspots and potential anthropogenic sources related to vehicular emissions, industrial discharge, and construction residues.
Who was studied?
The study focused on urban soil environments rather than living human or animal subjects. Soil samples were collected systematically from 60 sampling points across Fujairah City, representing a mix of land uses: industrial estates, roadside corridors, residential neighborhoods, and urban parks. Sampling depth was restricted to 0–20 cm to reflect direct human exposure pathways, particularly relevant to children and urban dwellers through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact.
The health risk assessment incorporated adult and child exposure models following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) framework. Risk characterization was based on average daily intake (ADI), hazard quotient (HQ), and lifetime cancer risk (LCR) parameters for each heavy metal. Therefore, while the physical samples derived from the environment, the target population in risk extrapolation comprised urban residents of Fujairah, making the research directly relevant for community-level certification standards and soil safety thresholds in HTMC frameworks.
Most important findings
| Critical Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Concentration Levels | Mean concentrations of Pb (68.5 mg/kg), Cr (95.2 mg/kg), Cu (72.7 mg/kg), Zn (162.4 mg/kg), Ni (40.3 mg/kg), and Cd (1.2 mg/kg) exceeded baseline soil values and, in several cases, international background thresholds. |
| Spatial Variability | Highest contamination was observed near industrial and traffic zones, indicating strong anthropogenic influence. Residential areas showed moderate contamination, likely from household waste and atmospheric deposition. |
| Pollution Indices | The Geoaccumulation Index revealed soils as “moderately to heavily polluted” by Cd and Pb, while Enrichment Factors indicated severe anthropogenic enrichment (EF > 10) for Cd and Pb, moderate for Zn and Cu, and minor for Cr and Ni. |
| Ecological Risk | Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) values identified Cd as the dominant ecological threat (E_r > 160), contributing over 60% of the total risk. The overall ecological risk was classified as “considerable” in 40% of sites. |
| Human Health Risk | Non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) was below unity for most metals, but Cd and Pb approached critical thresholds for children via ingestion exposure. Lifetime cancer risk (LCR) from Cr exceeded the safe limit (1×10⁻⁶), indicating potential carcinogenic hazard. |
| Source Apportionment | Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation matrices revealed industrial emissions, traffic exhaust, and construction debris as major sources, while Cr and Ni showed partial geogenic origin. |
| Comparative Perspective | Metal concentrations in Fujairah soils were higher than reported for neighboring Emirates, suggesting localized emission dynamics. These results emphasize the need for urban monitoring and certification. |
Key Implications
This study has significant regulatory and certification implications for the HTMC framework. The findings underscore the necessity of integrating standardized soil testing protocols and regional contamination baselines into certification requirements. For regulators, the data advocate stricter control of vehicular and industrial emissions as part of environmental licensing. From an industry standpoint, the results support the inclusion of heavy metal soil screening in urban redevelopment and agricultural reuse policies. The identified research gap lies in the lack of longitudinal monitoring to assess seasonal or policy-driven trends. Practically, the study recommends adoption of national heavy metal thresholds, community awareness campaigns, and integration of GIS-based risk mapping into certification audits to enhance traceability and compliance within the HTMC program.
Citation
Ali, A. A., Al-Kalbani, M. S., & Hossain, M. A. (2023). Assessment of heavy metal contamination and health risk in urban soils of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(12), 4567–4584. doi:10.1007/s10653-023-01670-5
Heavy metals are high-density elements that accumulate in the body and environment, disrupting biological processes. Lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, nickel, tin, aluminum, and chromium are of greatest concern due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and health risks, making them central to the HMTC program’s safety standards.
Lead is a neurotoxic heavy metal with no safe exposure level. It contaminates food, consumer goods and drinking water, causing cognitive deficits, birth defects and cardiovascular disease. HMTC’s rigorous lead testing applies ALARA principles to protect infants and consumers and to prepare brands for tightening regulations.
Cadmium is a persistent heavy metal that accumulates in kidneys and bones. Dietary sources include cereals, cocoa, shellfish and vegetables, while smokers and industrial workers receive higher exposures. Studies link cadmium to kidney dysfunction, bone fractures and cancer.
Nickel is a widely used transition metal found in alloys, batteries, and consumer products that also contaminates food and water. High exposure is linked to allergic contact dermatitis, organ toxicity, and developmental effects, with children often exceeding EFSA’s tolerable daily intake of 3 μg/kg bw. Emerging evidence shows nickel crosses the placenta, elevating risks of preterm birth and congenital heart defects, underscoring HMTC’s stricter limits to safeguard vulnerable populations.
