Evaluation of toxicological risk of foodstuffs contaminated with heavy metals in Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis study aimed to assess the concentrations of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the available foodstuffs (crops, milk and water), their bioaccumulation in human body and potential human health risks in Swat valley, northern Pakistan. Heavy metal concentrations in foodstuffs and human blood (adults (18-above) and children (1-12 years)) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometer. The results revealed high level of Mn in foodstuffs followed by Cr 4Cu 4Zn4Ni 4 Cd 4Pb, which significantly increased the levels of heavy metals in the adult's blood as compared to that of children in the order of Cr 4 Zn4Mn4 Ni 4Pb 4Cu 4Cd. Principal component analysis showed that selected foodstuffs were the possible sources of metal contamination in human blood, while correlation analysis revealed that the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in foodstuffs significantly correlated with that in human blood. Moreover, risk assessments for individual metals via foodstuffs were found within safe limits, except for Cd (HQ 4 1); Whereas, for aggregate multiple metals the risk was calculated as 3.97E þ00 (HI 41), in which water and milk were perceived as the greater contributors (81 percent) to HI; while fruits, grains and vegetables contributed 5 percent each, and pulses 4 percent.

Chemical composition, adulteration, total microbial load, and heavy metal in raw milk samples collected from dairy farms and urban areas in Lahore District, Pakistan

“…The mean values found in this research were higher than reported by Simsek, Gultekin, Oksuz, and Kurultay () in heavy traffic areas of Turkey (0.58 ppm), Licata et al () in Calabria in Italy (0.00198 ppm), Patra et al () in India (0.101 ppm), Rodríguez, Sanz, and Díaz () (0.076 ppm), Tripathi, Raghunath, Sastry, and Krishnamoorthy () (0.195 ppm), Onianwa, Adetola, Iwegbue, Ojo, and Tella () (0.67 ppm), Lante, Lomolino, Cagnin, and Spettoli () (0.0518 ppm), Enb, Donia, Abd‐Rabou, Abou‐Arab, and El‐Senaity () (cow = 0.212 ppm and buffalo = 0.142 ppm), Khan et al () in Swaat Valley, Pakistan (0.164 ppm) in northern (0.9319 ppm) and southern (0.8484 ppm) regions of Croatia, Birghila, Dobrinas, Stanciu, and Soceanu () in cow milk (0.17 ppm), Maas et al () in cow milk (0.28 ppm). The concentration of Cu found in this research were lower than found by Younus et al () in Pakistan (Jhang District) (1.354 ppm) with range of 0.5 ppm to 3.229 ppm.…”

Chromate adsorption on selected soil minerals: Surface complexation modeling coupled with spectroscopic investigation

“…The adsorption edge experiments were conducted under atmospheric conditions at different solution pH (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10), total Cr(VI) concentrations (10 -4 , 10 -5 , and 10 -6 M) and ionic strengths (using 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 M KNO3 as the background electrolyte). Ferrihydrite (2 g/L), birnessite (20 g/L), kaolinite (20 g/L), and illite (20 g/L) were added to the 500 mL solution containing Cr(VI) and the background electrolyte.…”

“…The environmental, toxicological, and health risks associated with Cr(VI) are closely linked to its speciation and behavior in the environment [4][5][6]. Therefore, there is a need for understanding the adsorption of Cr(VI) at the solid-soil solution interface, which is a major factor in determining its distribution [7,8].…”

Analysis of 22 Elements in Milk, Feed, and Water of Dairy Cow, Goat, and Buffalo from Different Regions of China

“…Buffalo drinking water had higher trace element concentrations than those of cows and goats. Buffalo drinking water samples were collected from different province; therefore, region might account for such differences [31,32]. The concentrations of V, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, Se, Rb, and Cs in drinking water were lower than 10 μg/L; Ag was not detected in any of the samples.…”