Title: Spatial interpolation of cadmium contamination of agricultural soils in Changhua County, Taiwan

Authors: Po-Huang Chiang, George J. Musa, Dennis P.H. Hsieh, Der-Ming Liou, Chi-Pang Wen, Ta-Chien Chan, Hsiao-Hui Chen, Hsiao-Lei Chen

Addresses: Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Long St., Sec 2, Shih-Pai, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Center for Health Policy Research and Development, National Health Research Institutes, No. 35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Earth and Environmental Science, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4309, USA. ' Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, No.35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan, ROC. ' Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Long St., Sec 2, Shih-Pai, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. ' Center for Health Policy Research and Development, National Health Research Institutes, No.35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan, ROC. ' Institute of Health Informatics and Decision Making, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Long St., Sec 2, Shih-Pai, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. ' Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Long St., Sec 2, Shih-Pai, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. ' Office of Vice President, National Health Research Institutes, No.35, Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract: A robust spatial model to interpolate topsoil cadmium concentrations monitored by Taiwan EPA was constructed for assessment of health risks posed by this contamination in Changhua County, Taiwan. kriging methods, using a Geographic Information Systems (GIS), were used to estimate the range and severity of topsoil contamination. Optimised Kriging models and geostatistical analyses revealed that much of the farm topsoil in the catchment area was polluted above the levels established for human health. Cadmium hotspots (10-600 mg/kg) are identified in a highly populated region in the County.

Keywords: cadmium; farm topsoil; geographic information systems; GIS; spatial analysis; kriging; Taiwan; health risks; soil contamination; environmental pollution; agricultural soils.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.031753

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.40 No.4, pp.322 - 336

Published online: 23 Feb 2010 *

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