Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Comparing the health risk of toxic metals through vegetable consumption between industrial polluted and non-polluted fields in Shaoguan, south China

Author(s):

Xu Wang ^{1, 2, 3}, Fuhua Wang ^{1, 2, 3}*, Bruce Chen ⁴, Fangfang Sun ^{2, 3}, Wu He ^{2, 3}, Dian Wen ¹, Xiangxiang Liu ¹, Qifeng Wang ¹

Recieved Date: 2012-01-19, Accepted Date: 2012-05-02

Abstract:

This study determined concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and zinc (Zn) in 127 rhizosphere soils and 127 vegetable samples collected from Shaoguan, south China. The Chinese National Standard and the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) were used to compare the risk of these toxic metals through vegetable consumption in four zones, including three industrial polluted zones (P1, P2 and P3) and one non-polluted zone (P4). Results showed that in three industrial zones, the levels of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Zn in vegetable rhizosphere soils exceeded the Chinese National Standard (GB15618-1995) by 9.09%, 87.9%, 8.08%, 32.3% and 18.2%, respectively, and Cd was the major pollution source. Mean contents of tested heavy metals in vegetables in three industrial zones (P1, P2 and P3) were significantly higher than that in the non-polluted zone (P4), and the levels of Pb, Cd, As and Hg in vegetables of three industrial zones exceeded the Chinese National Standard (GB 2762-2005) by 33.9%, 35.4%, 42.5% and 9.4%, respectively. The THQ of vegetables in four zones occurred at 0.13 - 1.2 for Pb, 0.28 - 4.0 for Cd, 0.55 - 2.3 for As, 0.0048 - 0.030 for Hg, and 0.064 - 0.11 for Zn. All THQ values in the non-polluted Danxia town (P4) were below the FAO/WHO permissible limit (THQ < 1). In contrast, the THQ of Cd in the industrial polluted Shaoguan Smelting Plant (P1) and Fankou Pb and Zn Mine (P2), and that of As in Shaoguan Smelting Plant (P1) and Plastics Factory (P3) exceeded the FAO/WHO permissible limit (THQ > 1). Our work suggests that the exposure risk of relevant heavy metals through vegetable consumption was higher to children compared with mid-ages and aged people. Toxic metal contamination through consumption of vegetable grown around the industrial zones imposed a great health risk on local inhabitant. 

Keywords:

Toxic metals, health risk, vegetable, target hazard quotient, industrial pollution, non-polluted fields, Shaoguan

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 943-948

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