## 3 Results and Discussions
### XRF Soil Analysis
#### 3.2.6 Potential Health Risk Assessment
The estimated daily intake via ingestion (EDI\({}_{\text{ing}}\)) ranged from 204.57 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\) (4 PS) to 1380.8 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\) mg kg\({}^{-1}\) day\({}^{-1}\) (1 ES), with an average value of 466.03 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\)mg kg\({}^{-1}\) day\({}^{-1}\). For dermal exposure (EDI\({}_{\text{derm}}\)), the values ranged between 0.57 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\) (4 PS) and 3.87 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\)mg kg\({}^{-1}\) day\({}^{-1}\) (1 ES), with an average of 1.30 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\). Lastly, the estimated daily intake via inhalation (EDI\({}_{\text{inh}}\)) ranged from 5.72 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-9}\) (7 PS) and 38.58 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-9}\) mg kgday\({}^{-1}\) (1 ES), with an average value of 13.02 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-9}\) mg kg\({}^{-1}\) day\({}^{-1}\). The hazard quotient (HQ) for ingestion ranged from 58.45 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) (7 PS) to 394.52 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-3}\) (1 ES). For dermal contact, HQ values ranged from 0.16 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\) (7 PS) to 1.10 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\) (1 ES). Lastly, for inhalation, HQ values ranged from 1.09 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\) (7 PS) and 7.35 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\) (1 ES). The hazard index (HI) for Pb had an average value of 13.69 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\), with a maximum value of 40.55 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\) observed at 1 ES and a minimum value of 6.01 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\) at 7 PS. According to the EDI values, the primary pathway intake for the studied heavy metals is ingestion, followed by vaporization (only for mercury), dermal contact and, lastly inhalation. However, nearly all values are below the above (RfD) set by the USEPA,  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Size**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Element**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**HQing**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Pulmonary**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**HQing**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**HQing**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**HQing**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**HQing**} & & \multirow{2}{*}{**HQing**} \\  & & & & & & & & & & & \\  & & PS & ES & PS & ES &  
except for mercury at all locations (PS and ES), where the RfD of 8.75 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)was exceeded, with an average between 38 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\) and 39 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\) (approximately four times higher than the RfD) [12]. Because the ingestion pathway has been demonstrated to be the principal way of exposure in children due to their pica behavior, HQ\({}_{\rm{ing}}\) was calculated and the obtained values were in the following order: As \(>\) Hg \(>\) Ni \(>\) Cu \(>\) Zn \(>\) Cd. It can be noticed that As presented a higher risk than the rest of the metals and, although the maximum value for As (35.8 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\)) posed no threat to children's health, its concentration should be given attention. For HQ\({}_{\rm{derm}}\), the values in order are As \(>\) Hg \(>\) Ni \(>\) Cu \(>\) Zn \(>\) Cd, with maximum values for As (0.10 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-2}\)) and Hg (4.16 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-6}\)) under the threshold risk value, which is 1. For HQ\({}_{\rm{inh}}\), the values indicated the following trend: Hg \(>\) As \(>\) Ni \(>\) Cu \(>\) Cd \(>\) Zn. The maximum values for Hg (0.17 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-4}\)) and As (2.44 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\)) are well below the risk threshold, posing no threat on children's health. For mercury, the HQ for vaporization (HQ\({}_{\rm{cap}}\)) was also calculated, with values ranging between 4 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\) and 5.1 \(\times\) 10\({}^{-5}\). Based on these values, the locations were ranked from most to least exposed as follows: 5 \(>\) 10 = 7 \(>\) 3 = 4 = 6 \(>\) 2 = 8 \(>\) 1 = 9. If all the HQ values are subjected to comparison, the children are at risk of non-carcinogenic effects firstly through the ingestion and vaporization pathways, followed by dermal contact and inhalation.