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. 2025 Dec 1;48(1):21.
doi: 10.1007/s10653-025-02907-w.

Assessing trace metal based human health risks in the highly consumed vegetables collected from the industrialized zones of Bangladesh

Ummeh Sadia  1   2 , Md Nazrul Islam  1 , Md Ashraful Hoque  1 , Taznova Anwar Tanbi  1   2 , S M Ashraful Abedin Asha  3 , Sabbir Howlader  1   2 , Nobonita Sarker  4 , Shahidul Islam  4 , Ismail Rahman  5 , Amitava Bandyopadhyay  6 , Sumon Ganguli  7   8
Affiliations

Assessing trace metal based human health risks in the highly consumed vegetables collected from the industrialized zones of Bangladesh

Ummeh Sadia et al. Environ Geochem Health. .

Abstract

In Bangladesh, the safety and quality of vegetables have recently come under intense scrutiny due to trace metal (TM) contamination. The present article aims to investigate the content of eight TM (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Mn) in five different vegetable samples collected from three different industrial areas of Chittagong. The TM concentrations were determined using ICP-OES. Across all sites, 73.33% of Cd, 26.67% of Pb 13.33% of Cr, 20% of Cu and 20% of Zn concentrations exceeded the FAO/WHO (1995-2024) allowable limits for different sites whereas Co, Ni, and Mn were within the permissible limits. The combined Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) indicated potential non-carcinogenic risks with the value greater than 1 for both children and adults. The target carcinogenic risk (TCR) values of Cr (VI) for the samples exceeded the standard limits by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) indicating a carcinogenic risk through consumption of the investigated vegetables. Multivariate analysis (PCA with suitability checks and correlation analysis) revealed anthropogenic factors were responsible for such pollution. The findings of this study recommend the urgent need for regulatory action and continuous monitoring of vegetables grown in industrial areas to minimize potential health risks.

Keywords: Carcinogenic risks; Concentration; Health risks; Non-carcinogenic risks; Trace metals; Vegetables.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: Ethical approval was not required for this study as it involved only vegetable samples collected from agricultural fields without human or animal subjects. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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