HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATION IN VEGETABLES, FRUITS AND CEREALS AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISK OF HUMAN IN KHULNA, BANGLADESH

This research was aimed to assess the human health risk by measuring concentration of seven heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As and Pb) in some selected vegetables, fruits and cereals in Khulna, Bangladesh. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) deterministic approaches were used to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk which was measured by Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI) and Target cancer Risk (TR) values. The contents of Mn, Ni, As and Pb except Fe, Cu and Zn were above the recommended maximum acceptable levels proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Assessment of non-carcinogenic health hazard by THQ indicated no concern from consumption of these selected cereals except As, Pb and vegetables except for Pb. But the combined impacts of all metals (HI) were higher than the acceptable limit of 1 for all vegetables and cereals. So, the consumption of these vegetables and cereals are of biggest concern for non-carcinogenic health effects and all metals together may affect human health as revealed by HI. Upon consumption of studied vegetables, fruits and cereals the probability of developing cancer was greater than USEPA threshold risk limit (>10-5) for Pb and (>10-3) for As and Ni. Whereas the TR value indicates moderate cancer risk for Pb and highly cancer risk for As, Ni from this study area.