农业土壤中金属的污染是全球严重的威胁，但与主要农业地区的风险相关的报道有限。本研究旨在评估巴基斯坦查克瓦尔市农业土壤中选择的宏量元素和必需/有毒微量金属（Ca，Mg，Na，K，Sr，Li，Ag，Fe，Zn，Co，Cu，Mn，Cd，Cr，Pb和Ni）的分布，以评估其污染状况、源头鉴定和可能的人体健康风险。采用王水消化法对金属进行了AAS定量分析。在选择的金属中，Ca（48,285 mg/kg）和Fe（30,120 mg/kg）的平均浓度最高，其次是Mg（9171 mg/kg）、K（973.3 mg/kg）、Mn（399.0 mg/kg）和Na（368.9 mg/kg）。相关性研究表明金属之间以及物化性质之间存在强烈的相互关系。金属水平的多元分析（PCA / CA）揭示了土壤中不同的人为污染源。各种污染指数显示Cd的污染/富集程度极高，其次是土壤中Ag的适度富集/污染。大多数金属的HQ值显示无关紧要的非癌症风险。Cr的平均CR值超过了安全限值（1.0E-06），无论是摄入还是吸入暴露，都表明人群面临相当大的终身癌症风险。本研究的结果将有助于更好地理解农业土壤的污染及其对人体健康的影响，并促进有效的减少土壤污染的行动。©2023. 作者（们），在Springer Nature B.V.独家许可下。

Contamination of metals in agricultural soil is a serious global threat but there are limited reports related to their risks in major agronomic areas. The current study is aimed to assess the distribution of selected macroelements and essential/toxic trace metals (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Sr, Li, Ag, Fe, Zn, Co, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni) in the agricultural soil of Chakwal, Pakistan, in order to appraise their contamination status, source identification and probable human health risks. Quantification of the metals was performed by AAS employing aqua regia digestion method. Among the selected metals, dominant mean concentrations were observed for Ca (48,285 mg/kg) and Fe (30,120 mg/kg), followed by Mg (9171 mg/kg), K (973.3 mg/kg), Mn (399.0 mg/kg) and Na (368.9 mg/kg). The correlation study indicated strong mutual relationships among the metals as well as physicochemical properties. Multivariate analysis (PCA/CA) of the metal levels revealed their diverse anthropogenic sources in the soil. Various pollution indices indicated extremely high contamination/enrichment of Cd, followed by moderate enrichment/contamination of Ag in the soil. The HQ values for most of the metals manifested insignificant non-cancer risks. The average CR value of Cr was exceeding the safe limit (1.0E-06) for both ingestion and inhalation exposure, indicating a considerable lifelong cancer risk for the population. The results of this study will provide a better understanding related to the contamination of agricultural soil and its effects on human health and to promote effective actions to reduce the soil pollution.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.