Heavy Metals Accumulation in Vegetables and Its Consequences on Human Health in the Areas Influenced by Industrial Activities

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023 Oct 28. doi: 10.1007/s12011-023-03923-6. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe degradation of the environment due to numerous industrial practices has emerged as a major issue globally, particularly in a country like Bangladesh. The present study dispenses information about heavy metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) contamination in some frequently consumed vegetables, namely, ash pumpkin, potato, bitter gourd, buffalo spinach, snake gourd, and pointed gourd grown in an industrially prone location and their repercussion on consumers' health. Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique was used as the major analytical tool to detect heavy metal concentrations. Mean concentration and the range of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in vegetables were detected (4.81 ± 2.79, 2.43-10.94), (497.57 ± 258.08, 181.24-886.67), (644.49 ± 298.40, 179.56-998.78), (38.88 ± 14.31, 18.88-60.12), (58.11 ± 12.58, 42.55-84.79), (137.24 ± 48.37, 71.99-208.98), (123.31 ± 63.62, 49.97-256.09), (8.09 ± 2.69, 4.29-14.94), and (4.16 ± 2.95, 1.22-9.98) mg/kg (dry weight basis), respectively. An extreme level of heavy metal contamination in vegetable samples was notified regarding the estimated metal pollution index (MPI) and Nemerow pollution index (P) value, which underpinned the health risk values. The estimated hazard index (HI) value stipulated high risk in all varieties of vegetables regardless of age group and cadmium (Cd) was found as the major con...
Source: Biological Trace Element Research - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: research