Heavy Metals in Leafy Vegetables and Soft Fruits from Allotment Gardens in the Warsaw Agglomeration: Health Risk Assessment

Jarosław Chmielewski, Elżbieta Wszelaczyńska (), Jarosław Pobereżny, Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki and Barbara Gworek
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Jarosław Chmielewski: Department of Public Health, Academy of Medical Sciences of Applied and Holistic Sciences, 01-234 Warsaw, Poland
Elżbieta Wszelaczyńska: Department of Agronomy and Food Processing, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Jarosław Pobereżny: Department of Agronomy and Food Processing, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, Prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Magdalena Florek-Łuszczki: Department of Medical Anthropology, Institute of Rural Medicine, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
Barbara Gworek: Department of Environmental Chemistry and Risk Assessment, The Institute of Environmental Protection—National Research Institute, 02-170 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Vegetables and fruits grown in urban areas pose a potential threat to human health due to contamination with heavy metals (HMs). This study aimed to identify and quantify the concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) in tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and fruits collected from 16 allotment gardens (AGs) located in Warsaw. A total of 112 samples were analyzed (72 vegetable and 40 fruit samples). Vegetables from AGs accumulated significantly higher levels of HMs than fruits. Leafy vegetables, particularly those cultivated near high-traffic roads, exhibited markedly elevated levels of Pb, Cd, and Zn compared to those grown in peripheral areas. Lead concentrations exceeded permissible limits by six to twelve times, cadmium by one to thirteen times, and zinc by 0.7 to 2.4 times. Due to high levels of Pb and Cd, tomatoes should not be cultivated in urban environments. Regardless of location, only trace amounts of HMs were detected in fruits. The greatest health risk is associated with the consumption of leafy vegetables. Lettuce should be considered an indicator plant for assessing environmental contamination. The obtained Hazard Index (HI) values indicate that only the tested fruits are safe for consumption. Meanwhile, the values of the Hazard Quotient (HQ) indicate no health risk associated with the consumption of lettuce, cherries, and red currants. Among the analyzed elements, Pb showed a higher potential health risk than other metals. This study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of HM levels in urban soils and the establishment of baseline values for public health purposes. Remediation of contaminated soils and the implementation of safer agricultural practices are recommended to reduce the exposure of urban populations to the risks associated with the consumption of contaminated produce. In addition, the safety of fruits and vegetables grown in urban areas is influenced by the location of the AGs and the level of industrialization of the agglomeration. Therefore, the safety assessment of plant products derived from AGs should be monitored on a continuous basis, especially in vegetables.

Keywords: allotments; environment; fruit; health risks; heavy metals; vegetables; pollution; risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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