Non‐carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk assessment of heavy metals in cooked beans and vegetables in Punjab, North India

Abstract

Beans and vegetables are consumed with cereals in India on daily basis. The aim of the study was to assess carcinogenic and non‐carcinogenic risk of heavy metals in cooked beans and cooked vegetables consumed by adults (18–59 years) and elderly (≥60 years) subjects from two districts (Ludhiana and Bathinda) of Punjab. A total of 150 households were selected from 30 different locations covering both rural and urban areas. The mean daily consumption of beans and vegetables in Ludhiana was recorded as 35.09 and 215.93 g, respectively. The corresponding figures in Bathinda were observed as 26.85 and 230.54 g. The average amounts of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were 1.44 × 10−5, 8.21 × 10−5, 1.30 × 10−3, and 2.61 × 10−7 mg/kg for cooked vegetables in urban households of Ludhiana district, respectively. The corresponding values for rural households were 1.53 × 10−5, 5.58 × 10−5, and 2.98 × 10−4 mg/kg while mercury was not detected. The mean chronic daily intake (CDI) of arsenic from cooked beans was significantly (p ≤ .001) higher in urban adult males of Ludhiana (7.74 × 10−9 mg/kg/day) and Bathinda (5.31 × 10−9 mg/kg/day) compared to their rural counterparts. Similar trend was observed in CDI of heavy metals from vegetables. The mean CDI of cadmium from cooked vegetables in urban adult females of Ludhiana (3.76 × 10−7 mg/kg/day) was significantly (p ≤ .001) higher than their rural counterparts and both urban and rural adult females of Bathinda. The study concluded that the subjects of both districts were found safe from non‐carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk associated with heavy metals present in cooked beans and vegetables, except for urban subjects and rural adult subjects of Ludhiana district who had cancer risk due to cadmium present in cooked vegetable samples.