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

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Abstract

The 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 contributor. Concerning the carcinogenic risk index (CR) for single elements, the value of Co, Ni, and Cr was approximated far above the USEPA threshold risk limit (CR>1E-04). Moreover, total carcinogenic risk (TCR) for all varieties of vegetables exceeded the safety threshold value for both the age group and children, in particular, were found most vulnerable. The outshot of the present study divulged associated health risks for the population group by the heavy metals via dietary intake of vegetables.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request

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Acknowledgements

The staff members of the Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka are highly appreciated and acknowledged for their assistance regarding the present research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmospheric and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Yeasmin N. Jolly, Shirin Akter, M. Jamiul Kabir & K. M. Mamun

  2. Accelerator Facilities Division, Atomic Energy Centre Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    M. Joynal Abedin

  3. Department of Chemistry and Physics, Gono Bishwabidyalay, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    S. M. Fahad

  4. Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh

    Arafat Rahman

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  1. Yeasmin N. Jolly
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Contributions

Yeasmin N. Jolly supervised, wrote the original and final draft, edited the final manuscript, Shirin Akter did the formal analysis, Shirin Akter, M. Jamiul Kabir, K. M. Mamun, M. Joynal Abedin and S.M. Fahad have analyzed the data, and Arafat Rahman done the statistical analysis. All the authors reviewed the manuscript.All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yeasmin N. Jolly.

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Jolly, Y.N., Akter, S., Kabir, M.J. et al. Heavy Metals Accumulation in Vegetables and Its Consequences on Human Health in the Areas Influenced by Industrial Activities. Biol Trace Elem Res 202, 3362–3376 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03923-6

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