Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil, Irrigation Water and Vegetables in Peri‐Urban Agricultural Areas and Markets of Delhi

Abstract

Dietary exposure to heavy metals, namely cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), has been identified as a risk to human health through consumption of vegetable crops. The present study investigates heavy metal contamination in irrigation water, soil, and vegetables at four peri-urban and one wholesale site in Delhi, India, and estimates the health risk index. Most of the samples collected from peri-urban areas exceeded the safe limits of lead and cadmium, whereas only lead concentration was found to be higher in vegetable samples collected from the wholesale market. Average uptake of metals by vegetables from soil decreased in the order Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb. The order of metal uptake based on transfer factor was highest in okra, cauliflower, and spinach, from greatest to least. Among the vegetables from peri-urban sites, only okra crossed the safe limit for cadmium; whereas vegetables from the wholesale site exceeded the limit for lead (potato, coriander, chilies, pea, and carrot, in order from greatest to least) with respect to health risk index.

Heavy Metal Contamination in Soil and Brown Rice and Human Health Risk Assessment near Three Mining Areas in Central China

“…The results of this study showed greater mobility of Cd and Sb from soil to rice, followed by Mn, Pb, and As. The TF indicates a key process for human exposure to toxic heavy metals through the food chain [ 45 – 47 ]. Our results indicated that Cd and Sb contamination in soil poses a major human health risk.…”

Contamination assessment, source apportionment and health risk assessment of heavy metals in paddy soils of Jiulong River Basin, Southeast China

“…Heavy metals accumulated in soils can cause adverse effects on the human body through direct routes, such as ingestion of soil, inhalation of dust particles and dermal absorption, 3 and indirect routes, such as the food chain. 4 Agricultural soil is the basis for the development of agricultural economy. It is of great signicance to study the contamination characteristics, source appointment and health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils.…”

Wastewater Confronting Realities for Sustainable Livelihood in Developing Countries: Case Study Mekelle University, Ethiopia

“…This remains a problem, particularly in developing countries like Ethiopia where laws restricting exposure to wastewater do not exist. However, quite many research reports are available on the accumulation of heavy metals in soil and subsequent translocation and bioaccumulation by crops grown in wastewater irrigated soils [17,18]. Furthermore, gaps exist in evidencebased law-making measures committed to wastewater management in Ethiopia, which hinders attempts by the regulators and policy makers to influence common problems that occur at local and national levels through established rules and processes.…”