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Assessment of Trace Metal and Metalloid Accumulation and Human Health Risk from Vegetables Consumption through Spinach and Coriander Specimens Irrigated with Wastewater

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Abstract

This study focused on evaluating the metal and metalloid contamination and associated risks in the two vegetables crops, coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) treated with three water regimes, canal water, groundwater and municipal wastewater. These vegetables are widely consumed by people and are also used in traditional medicine for treating various disorders. Metal and metalloid accumulation (Zn, Pb, Se, Cu, As, Mo, Fe, Ni) was found higher in vegetables treated with wastewater. Wastewater treated soil had high pollution load index. Fe, Zn, As and Pb had higher values in water, soil and vegetables as compared to other studied metals. Overall, metal correlation for soil and vegetables was significant and positive except for Fe and Cu in spinach. The highest value for daily metal intake was estimated for Fe while Se had the lowest value for the same index. It was thus concluded that trace metal and metalloid accumulation was a major health concern for the public consuming these vegetables.

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Acknowledgements

The Higher Education Commission, Pakistan is acknowledged for providing the financial support through a research project #2484/13 to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

    Zafar Iqbal Khan, Kafeel Ahmad & Sumaira Yasmeen

  2. Buca Faculty of Education, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Ilker Ugulu

  3. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

    Ijaz Rasool Noorka

  4. Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

    Naunain Mehmood

  5. Department of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan

    Muhammad Sher

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  1. Zafar Iqbal Khan
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  2. Ilker Ugulu
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  3. Kafeel Ahmad
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  4. Sumaira Yasmeen
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  5. Ijaz Rasool Noorka
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  6. Naunain Mehmood
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  7. Muhammad Sher
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Correspondence to Ilker Ugulu.

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Khan, Z.I., Ugulu, I., Ahmad, K. et al. Assessment of Trace Metal and Metalloid Accumulation and Human Health Risk from Vegetables Consumption through Spinach and Coriander Specimens Irrigated with Wastewater. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 101, 787–795 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2448-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2448-8

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