Potential Health Risk Assay of Major and Trace Metals via Consumption of Wastewater Irrigated Vegetables

摘要

This study determines the potential health risk of metals to human health through consumption of fresh and waste water irrigated vegetables in the district Bhimber, Pakistan. Five samples of fresh and waste water vegetables e.g., Brassica oleracea capitata (cabbage), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Brassica rapa (turnip), Raphanus sativus (radish), Spinacia oleracea (spinach) and soil samples were collected and analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA-240FS) for metals. Soil of waste water vegetables showed elevated levels of metals. Health risk index was evaluated which depicted the higher levels of heavy metal contents through consumption of waste water vegetables. The health risk index value for each fresh water vegetable was less than one indicating no threat for the consumers. However, the health risk index for each of the selected waste water vegetables was > 1. Therefore, consumption of waste water vegetables indicated a potential threat to the study area. Multivariate cluster analysis of selected metals indicated the common association of Ni-Pb with Fe-Ca and Cr-Zn. Correlation investigation depicted the positive association of K-Cu, Ca-Fe and Zn-Cr. Negative correlation such as K-Fe (-0.835), K-Ca (-0.956), Mg-Fe (-0.861) revealed the opposite distribution of metals in vegetables. Lead showed higher accumulation factor or translocation factor values both in fresh water and waste water irrigated vegetables thereby forecasting about the serious threat to the vegetable consumers.