Evaluation of Environmental Contamination by Toxic Elements in Agricultural Soils and Their Health Risks in the City of Arequipa, Peru

This study evaluated the concentration of toxic elements in soil samples from agricultural fields districts Sachaca, Socabaya, Hunter, Quequeña, Yarabamba, Characato and Tiabaya city Arequipa, Peru. The ecological risk, enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) integrated risk (RI) were estimated, while health was determined with hazard coefficient (HQ) (HI) values. Seven collected July 2019 17 analyzed an accredited laboratory using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) methodology. results compared environmental where no element exceeded what is established standard. according to background Wedepohl, indicated that As (12.26 ± 3.66) presented a severe (high) soils, Cd (6.87 3.25) moderate As, Cd, Pb, Cu Zn (2.85 0.85; 3.53 1.67; 2.71 1.25; 3.83 0.81; 2.55 0.79) low Cr did not present soils. Igeo for Quequeña showed contamination, also contamination all evaluated, same Tiabaya. degree due by elements. Finally, soils HQ values negligible HI less than 0.1 (H1 < 0.1) children adults.