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. 2023 Oct;201(10):4985-4999.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-023-03558-7. Epub 2023 Jan 14.

Pollution Characteristics, Source Identification, and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Soil-Vegetable System in Two Districts of Bangladesh

M Nur E Alam  1 , M Mozammal Hosen  2 , A K M Atique Ullah  2 , M A Maksud  2 , S R Khan  2 , L N Lutfa  2 , Tasrina Rabia Choudhury  2 , Shamshad B Quraishi  2
Affiliations

Pollution Characteristics, Source Identification, and Health Risk of Heavy Metals in the Soil-Vegetable System in Two Districts of Bangladesh

M Nur E Alam et al. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

The consequences of climate change, food security, and self-sufficiency goals are driving excessive human activity onto vegetable farms in Bangladesh, and harmful heavy metal exposure is spreading. So, the study assessed the toxic metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) exposure, characteristics, and human health risk regarding the soil-vegetable system of two distinct locations in Bangladesh using atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentration of metals in soil and fertilizer/pesticide samples followed the same order (Cr > Pb > Cd), but for vegetable samples, the order was Pb > Cr > Cd, with some extra Pb compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limit (0.3 mg/kg). Low levels of pollution with negligible ecological concerns were predicted for both locations by the soil quality indexing. But industrial influence boosted the Pb content in location B, and common sources (fertilizer/pesticide) for both locations might be responsible for a moderate level of Cd. The toxic metals transferred to vegetables followed the trend of Cd > Pb > Cr. However, the human health risks arising from harmful metals exposure at both locations were ineffective (< 1) in evaluating noncarcinogenic risk patterns through the target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ, and hazard index (HI). Again, considering probable carcinogenic risk patterns, vegetable consumption with studied exposure levels of toxic metals followed within the acceptable range (between 1.0E-04 and 1.0E-06). Overall, location B is slightly more vulnerable than location A by considering metal exposure, pollution distribution, and risk evaluation in the study area (significant at p < 0.05). So, systematic monitoring and protective measures are required to ensure food safety and sustainable vegetable production.

Keywords: Health risk assessment; Industrial area; Nonindustrial area; Quality indexes; Soil-vegetable system; Toxic heavy metals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Illustrates the sampling locations in the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Quality indexes of soil samples for location A and location B (levels were the same for both locations) with the risk level in terms of toxic metals
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Illustrates the average bioaccumulation factor of toxic metals at two different locations
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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