Public Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Uptake by Vegetables Grown at a Waste-water-Irrigated Site in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background. Wastewater is often used in developing countries for irrigation of crops. This wastewater often contains a number of heavy metals which are harmful to human health due to their non-biodegradable nature, long biological half-lives and their potential to accumulate in different body parts. There are many potential risks to human health from heavy metal contamination of vegetables grown at waste-water-irrigated sites. Objectives. This study was carried out to assess the concentration of heavy metals and the risk to human health by heavy metals (lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As)) through the intake of locally grown vegetables collected from wastewater irrigated agricultural fields. The objectives of the present study were to determine concentrations of heavy metals in vegetables collected from the wastewater-irrigated fields, to calculate daily intake of heavy metals from the consumption of vegetables for both adults and children, and to evaluate their potential health risk. Methods. Twenty-seven samples of nine different types of vegetables were analyzed by an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) (Varian AAS 240 F S). Results. The range of various metals in waste-water irrigated vegetables were not detected (ND)-0.188, 0.072-1.069 and ND-0.076 mg/kg for Pb, Ni and As, respectively. The highest mean concentration of all metals was detected in jute leaf, except for Pb which was found in the stem amaranth leaf. The mean concentration of all metals in all vegetables was within the safe limits of the World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization (WHO/ FAO) and China's national standards. The health risk index was more than 1 for As in jute leaf for both adults and children. The metal pollution index was highest (0.16 mg/kg) in jute leaf, whereas green papaya showed the lowest metal pollution index (MPI) value (0.005 mg/kg). Among all vegetables tested, the highest intake values of Ni and As were from consumption of jute leaf and the highest intake values of Pb from consumption of stem amaranth leaf for both adults and children. Conclusions. Higher values in the metal pollution index and health risk index indicate heavy metal contamination in wastewater-irrigated soils that present the potential for a significant negative impact on human health.

Effects of Industrial Wastewater on the Yield and Trace Element Contents of Red amaranth

“…The concentration of Ni indicated that growth of red amaranth also influenced by it. Hossain et al (2015) detected the approximate concentration of Ni (0.07 to 1.0 µg g -1 ) in jute leaf, (0.7 µg g -1 ) in red amaranth and Pb concentration in stem amaranth was 0.1 µg g -1 which was lower than the values reports from an experiment.…”

Treated Greywater Reuse for Hydroponic Lettuce Production in a Green Wall System – Quantitative Health Risk Assessment

“…On the other hand, the health risk of heavy metals bioaccumulation in vegetables and food crops irrigated by untreated and treated wastewater evaluated in different studies [22][23][24][25][26]. This study was conducted in a unique configuration of an on-site greywater treatment system, granular filtration as part of green wall structure and hydroponic lettuce production system.…”

The Valuation of Water Quality: A Conceptual Framework for Households’ and Producers’ Willingness to Pay in Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…Not only the dissolved oxygen (DO) but other important water quality parameters such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and pH level also failed to comply with the environmental quality standard set by the DoE. Hence the river water shouldn't be used for irrigation, drinking, livestock drinking and washing (Chowdhury, Rashid, & Hoque, 2014;Hossain, Ahmed, Abdullah, Akbor, & Ahsan, 2015).…”

“…The negative impacts of using wastewater have been identified by several studies. For example, studies of Hossain et al (2015), Ahmed, Baki, et al (2015) and Ahmed, Shaheen, et al (2015) found the presence of toxic substances in several fish populations of river Buriganga and Turag. On the other hand, by using the wastewater, farmers grow several cash crops like red amaranth, radish, cabbage, carrot, gourd, pumpkin gourd, and other leafy vegetables in the urban and peri-urban area, and it is found the harmful toxins substances in such vegetables (Islam, Ahmed, Habibullah-Al-Mamun, & Masunaga, 2014;Mohiuddin, Alam, Rahman, Islam, & Ahmed, 2016;Sarkar et al, 2015;Uddin, Khanom, Al Mamun, & Parveen, 2016).…”

“…On the other hand, by using the wastewater, farmers grow several cash crops like red amaranth, radish, cabbage, carrot, gourd, pumpkin gourd, and other leafy vegetables in the urban and peri-urban area, and it is found the harmful toxins substances in such vegetables (Islam, Ahmed, Habibullah-Al-Mamun, & Masunaga, 2014;Mohiuddin, Alam, Rahman, Islam, & Ahmed, 2016;Sarkar et al, 2015;Uddin, Khanom, Al Mamun, & Parveen, 2016). Experts warned that the using of wastewater in crop production can deteriorate the public health situation in Dhaka city (Chaudhary, Mishra, & Kumar, 2016;Hossain et al, 2015;Lu et al, 2015).…”