Health risks of heavy metals in sewage-irrigated soils and edible seeds in Langfang of Hebei province, China.

Human exposure to heavy metals is attributed to consumption of food crops grown in polluted soil environment. The objective of our study was to assess the health risks of heavy metals in edible seeds of crops grown in sewage-irrigated soils located in the Langfang of Hebei province, China. Here, heavy metal contents in soils and plants were determined using an internal standard and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. There was a relative buildup of heavy metals in sewage-irrigated soils in the study area; in particular, all Cr and partial Zn and Cu showed higher concentrations than the limits proposed by the World Health Organization, European Union (EU) and UK. Heavy metal concentrations in edible seeds of plants grown in sewage-irrigated soils partly exceeded the permissible limits set by the EU, UK and the State Environmental Protection Administration in China. With the exception of Cu, health risk index values of each heavy metal investigated by intake of the edible seeds were less than 1. Here, a health risk index of < 1 is considered safe for human consumption. The study indicated that there was a relative absence of health risks associated with the ingestion of sewage-irrigated edible seeds.

Chen ZF ，Zhao Y ，Zhu Y ，Yang X ，Qiao J ，Tian Q ，Zhang Q ... -  《-》

Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing, China.

Khan S ，Cao Q ，Zheng YM ，Huang YZ ，Zhu YG ... -  《ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION》

Impacts of sewage irrigation on heavy metal distribution and contamination in Beijing, China.

Liu WH ，Zhao JZ ，Ouyang ZY ，Söderlund L ，Liu GH ... -  《ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL》

Metal contamination of soils and crops affected by the Chenzhou lead/zinc mine spill (Hunan, China).

Liu H ，Probst A ，Liao B 《SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT》

A comparative study of human health risks via consumption of food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil (Peshawar) and relatively clean water irrigated soil (lower Dir).

Food crops irrigated with wastewater are mostly contaminated with heavy metals and considered as a main pathway for human exposure. In this study, soil and food crops samples were collected from wastewater irrigated soils, background and relatively less polluted areas. Results of the sequential extraction and total metals concentrations in soils indicated that wastewater irrigation has significantly increased (p > or = 0.001) the bioavailable and total metal contents in wastewater irrigated soil as compared to background and control soils. Heavy metal concentrations in the food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil were higher than those grown on background and control soils but were found within WHO/FAO permissible limits except for Zn. Health risk index values were less than 1 for both control and wastewater irrigated soils (except Mn). However, the food crops such as Brassica rapa, Spinacia oleracae L., Lycopersicum esculantum, Mentha viridis, Coriandum sativum and Lactuca sativa grown on wastewater irrigated soil can pose health risks because of the high concentration of Mn.

Jan FA ，Ishaq M ，Khan S ，Ihsanullah I ，Ahmad I ，Shakirullah M ... -  《-》