Abstract
In the present study, levels of trace metals in two commonly consumed vegetables (Spinacia oleracea and Brassica campestris) were assessed. Both vegetables are cultivated in a semi-arid area which receives effluents from various sources. Leafy parts and tender stems are used for human consumption as well as for farm animals as a source of nourishment. However, the aim of the present study was to appraise the concentrations of trace metals in different tissues of both vegetables at the time of harvesting when they become accessible to the humans. The analysis showed that mean trace metal levels in the stem of S. oleracea showed the highest bioconcentration of Zn (25.43 mg kg−1), while in the stem (28.56 mg kg−1) and roots (22.40 mg kg−1), Fe level was the highest. In case of B. campestris, Fe level was highest (18.45 mg kg−1) in the stems. Copper (Cu) has the highest bioconcentration factor values (BF = 1.030) in the stem of B. campestris, whereas Mn (BF = 0.010) was the least accumulated element in the leaves and roots of B. campestris. Collectively, bioconcentration of trace metals in plant tissues exceeded the standard values set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency. So, the vegetables cultivated in effluent-impacted areas may stance a potential public health risk for end-consumers.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ademoroti CM (1996) Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology. Folodex press Ltd, Ibadan, Nigeria, pp 171–183
Biddle GN (1982) Toxicology of lead: primer for analytical chemists. J Assoc Off Anal Chem 65:947–952
Bonnet M, Camares O, Veisseire P (2000) The Effects of zinc and influence of Acremonium lolii on growth parameters, chlorophyll a fluorescence and antioxidant enzyme activities of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv Apollo). J Exp Bot 51:945–953
Chamberlain AC (1983) Fall out of Pb and uptake by crops. Atmos Environ 17:693–706
Demirezen D, Aksoy A (2006) Heavy metal levels in vegetables in turkey are within safe limits for Cu, Zn, Ni and exceeded for Cd and Pb. J Food Qual 29:252–265
Dolk H, Vrijheid M (2003) The impact of environmental pollution on congenital anomalies. Br Med Bull 68:25–45
Dong J, Wu FB, Zhang G (2005) Effect of cadmium on growth and photosynthesis of tomato seedlings. J Zhejiang Univ Sci 6:974–980
FAO/WHO (1989) Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants (Thirty-third report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives). WHO technical report series, No. 776, 26–27
FEPA (1991) Federal environmental protection agency (1991) guideline and standards for environmental pollution control in Nigeria. FEPA, Lagos
Harrison RM, Chirgawi MB (1989) The assessment of air and soil as contributors of some trace metals to vegetable plants. I. Use of a filtered air growth cabinet. Sci Total Environ 83:13–34
Lewis M, Worobey J, Ramsay DS, McCoromack MK (1992) Prenatal exposure to heavy metals: effects on childhood cognitive skills and health status. Pediatrics 89:1010–1015
Lim TT, Chui PC, Goh KH (2005) Process evaluation for optimization of EDTA used and recoveryfor heavy metals removal from contaminated soil. Chemosphere 58:1031–1040
Long XX, Yang X, Ni WZ, Ye ZQ, He ZL, Calvelt DV, Stoffela JP (2003) Assessing zinc threshold for phytotoxicity and potential dietary toxicity in selected vegetable crops. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 34:1421–1434
Mapanda F, Mangwayana EN, Nyamangara J, Giller KE (2005) The effect of long-term irrigation using wastewater on heavy metal contents of soils under vegetables in Harare, Zimbabwe. Agric Ecosyst Environ 107:151–165
Oomen HAPC, Grubben GJH (1978) Tropical leaf vegetables in human nutrition. Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, Amsterdam, pp 32–37
Singh S, Kumar M (2006) Heavy metal load of soil, water and vegetables in peri-urban Delhi. Environ Monitor Assess 120:79–91
Tyokumbur ET, Okorie T (2011) Bioconcentration of trace metals in tissues of two leafy vegetables widely consumed in South West Nigeria. Biol Trace Elem Res 140:215–224
Voutsa D, Grimanis A, Samara C (1996) Trace elements in vegetables grown in an industrial area in relation to soil and air particulate matter. Environ Pollut 94:325–335
Weigel HJ, Jäger HJ (1980) Subcellular distribution and chemical forms of cadmium in bean plants. Plant Physiol 65:480–482
Yargholi B, Azimi AA, Baghvand A, Liaghat AM, Fardi GA (2008) Investigation of cadmium absorption and accumulation in different parts of some vegetables. Am Eur J Agric Environ 3:357–364
Acknowledgments
The Higher Education Commission, Pakistan is acknowledged for providing the financial support through a research project # 2484/13 to the first and second authors. The authors thank all the supporters of this project and the referees for their constructive comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khan, Z.I., Ahmad, K., Ashraf, M. et al. Assessment of toxicological health risk of trace metals in vegetables mostly consumed in Punjab, Pakistan. Environ Earth Sci 75, 433 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5392-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5392-0