Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Vegetable Species Planted in Contaminated Soils and the Health Risk Assessment

Hang Zhou, Wen-Tao Yang, Xin Zhou, Li Liu, Jiao-Feng Gu, Wen-Lei Wang, Jia-Ling Zou, Tao Tian, Pei-Qin Peng and Bo-Han Liao
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Hang Zhou: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Wen-Tao Yang: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Xin Zhou: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Li Liu: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Jiao-Feng Gu: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Wen-Lei Wang: College of Science, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Jia-Ling Zou: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Tao Tian: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Pei-Qin Peng: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
Bo-Han Liao: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: The objectives of the present study were to investigate heavy metal accumulation in 22 vegetable species and to assess the human health risks of vegetable consumption. Six vegetable types were cultivated on farmland contaminated with heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and As). The target hazard quotient (THQ) method was used to assess the human health risks posed by heavy metals through vegetable consumption. Clear differences were found in the concentrations of heavy metals in edible parts of the different vegetables. The concentrations of heavy metals decreased in the sequence as leafy vegetables > stalk vegetables/root vegetables/solanaceous vegetables > legume vegetables/melon vegetables. The ability of leafy vegetables to uptake and accumulate heavy metals was the highest, and that of melon vegetables was the lowest. This indicated that the low accumulators (melon vegetables) were suitable for being planted on contaminated soil, while the high accumulators (leafy vegetables) were unsuitable. In Shizhuyuan area, China, the total THQ values of adults and children through consumption of vegetables were 4.12 and 5.41, respectively, suggesting that the residents may be facing health risks due to vegetable consumption, and that children were vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metal ingestion.

Keywords: heavy metal; accumulation; health risk; vegetable; target hazard quotient (THQ) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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