Soil samples collected from two districts of southern Serbia, Pčinja and Jablanica, were
analyzed in order to determine the content of eleven heavy metals and metalloids (As, B,
Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn). The concentration of the elements was measured by
atomic absorption spectrometry in 152 samples collected from agricultural land. The main
goal was to assess the environmental and health risk of eleven heavy metals and metalloids
tested in the soil. To determine the degree of soil contamination, measured concentrations
were compared with limits and remediation values given in the Serbian Rulebook. It was
determined that the average content of tested elements in mg/kg was: As (12.76), B
(113.73), Cd (1.10), Cr (58.01), Cu (29.62), Hg (0.33), Mn (1067.89), Mo (0.21), Ni
(34.85), Pb (233.38), Zn (64.49). The average content of all examined trace elements in
soil did not exceed the remediation values. However, the average content of Cd, Hg, Pb
exceeded the limit values. Five pollution indices were used to assess environmental risk:
enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF),
pollution load index (PLI), and potential environmental risk index (RI). Based on EF and
Igeo, it was concluded that the biggest problem was As, Hg and Pb. More than half of the
samples are moderately contaminated with Pb, over 30% of samples are heavily
contaminated with Hg, while some samples were highly polluted with As. Contamination
factor, as well as PLI and RI, showed moderate contamination of the soil with Hg and Cd.
The health risk assessment was estimated by hazard index (HI) and the carcinogenic risk
index (CR), which determine the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects that heavy
metals can cause in the human body, throught ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact
with contaminated soil. This study showed that there was no non-carcinogenic risk as
adults-hazard index (HI) calculated for each sample was less than one. On the other hand,
there was a higher risk for children's health since over 85% of soil samples had HI values
greater than one. Combine carcinogenic risk of all elements was estimated with lifetime
carcinogenic risk (LCR). There is no risk of developing cancer in both groups because
more than 90% of the samples had acceptable carcinogenic risk values between 1,0*10-6
i 1,0*10-4, while a small number had concern LCR values grater than 1,0*10-4
