Assessment of trace elements concentrations and associated health risks in imported vegetable samples

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Food Safety
• Toxicology

Background:

• Vegetables are essential to the human diet but can accumulate heavy metals.
• Understanding heavy metal contamination in imported produce is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify heavy metal concentrations in imported vegetables in Erbil City.
• To assess potential health risks associated with consuming these vegetables.

Main Methods:

• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure 19 heavy metals (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Ti, V, Zn).
• Health risk assessment was performed using Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Cancer Risk (CR) values, comparing results against WHO/FAO, European Commission, and USEPA guidelines.

Main Results:

• Mean concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), and Zinc (Zn) were below WHO/FAO maximum limits.
• Lead (Pb) and Nickel (Ni) levels surpassed WHO/FAO and European Commission guidelines.
• Hazard Index (HI) exceeded USEPA thresholds for most vegetables, with higher values in children, indicating greater vulnerability.
• Arsenic (As) posed a potential lifetime cancer risk for adults, and a high risk in children consuming leeks.

Conclusions:

• Imported vegetables in Erbil City present a risk due to elevated Pb and Ni levels.
• Children are more susceptible to heavy metal exposure from vegetables than adults.
• Arsenic contamination requires attention due to its carcinogenic potential in certain vegetable consumptions.