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Heavy Metals in Widely Consumed Vegetables Grown in Industrial Areas of Bangladesh: a Potential Human Health Hazard

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Abstract

The prevalence of heavy metals in frequently consumed vegetables constitutes a considerable public health hazard. This study aims to determine the quantity of heavy metals in widely consumed watercress (WC), alligator weed (AW), red amaranth (RA), spinach (SP), cauliflower (CF), and eggplant (EP) cultivated in industrial areas (e.g., Narsingdi district) of Bangladesh to assess the potential health hazards. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) served to determine the concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) in vegetable samples (n = 72). The contents of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni were found in most of the analyzed vegetables, whereas 79.17%, 44.44%, and 1.39% samples exceeded the FAO/WHO maximum allowable concentration (MAC) for Pb, Cd, and Ni, respectively. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of single heavy metal was below the corresponding maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI). The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values of Cd in all samples exceeded the threshold limit (ILCR > 10−4) for both adults and children, indicating lifetime cancer risk due to the consumption of contaminated vegetables. The target hazard quotient (THQ) of each heavy metal was THQ < 1.0 (except Ni in few samples), indicating that consumers have no non-cancer risk when exposed to a single heavy metal. However, hazard index (HI) values of heavy metals were greater than unity in contaminated WC and AW for adults and children. Meanwhile, WC, AW, and SP samples for children emerged as potential health risks of inhabitants in the studied areas. The outcomes of the present investigation might assist the regulatory bodies concerned in setting new strategies through monitoring the quality of marketed vegetables to minimize the risks to humans.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh (Grant number: 12601–120005400).

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Author notes

  1. Farzana Akter Laboni and Md. Wadud Ahmed contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

    Farzana Akter Laboni, Abdul Kaium, Aney Parven, Islam Md Meftaul & Md. Sirajul Islam Khan

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

    Md. Wadud Ahmed

  3. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh

    Md. Khairul Alam

  4. Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Aney Parven, Md. Aminur Rahman & Islam Md Meftaul

  5. Department of Food Engineering and Technology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, 3100, Bangladesh

    Md. Fahad Jubayer

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  1. Farzana Akter Laboni
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Contributions

Farzana Akter Laboni, methodology, data interpretation, validation and preparation of the original draft; Md.Wadud Ahmed, data interpretation, validation  and preparation of original draft; Abdul Kaium, writing — review and editing; Md. Khairul Alam, supervision, writing, editing and provided training and analytical supports; Aney Parven, writing — review and editing; Md. Fahad Jubayer, writing — review and editing; Md. Aminur Rahman, writing — review and editing; Md Meftaul Islam, comprehensive writing — review and editing; Md Sirajul Islam Khan, conceptualization, supervision, writing, and editing.

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Correspondence to Islam Md Meftaul or Md. Sirajul Islam Khan.

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Laboni, F.A., Ahmed, M.W., Kaium, A. et al. Heavy Metals in Widely Consumed Vegetables Grown in Industrial Areas of Bangladesh: a Potential Human Health Hazard. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 995–1005 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03179-6

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