Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 1Department of Chemical Enginerring, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

3 Department of soil science, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

Abstract

Background:
High concentration of heavy metals and NO
3
in
vegetables may pose serious health risks to humans. Therefore,
this research was done to evaluate the carcinogenic and non-
carcinogenic risk of heavy metals and NO
3
due to the consumption
of most important greenhouse vegetables produced in Markazi
province.
Methods:
In this descriptive study, sampling of cucumber,
tomato, and bell pepper produced in the greenhouses of Markazi
province was done randomly and the concentration of Pb, Cd, Cu,
Ni and NO
3
of them were determined. Non-cancer risk related to
heavy metals and NO
3
sorption from vegetables was evaluated
using the EPA method for men and women.
Results:
The mean concentration of all the studied metals
except Cu was in the allowable concentration range. The mean
concentration of NO
3
in the cucumber was 300 mg/kg FW,
which was about 1.5 times higher than the maximum allowable
concentration of that in vegetables. The HQ of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and
NO
3
for all population groups were smaller than 1. The results
showed that NO
3
and Pb were the major risk contributor for the
consumers. The excess lifetime cancer risks of Ni for all receptor
groups were greater than 1×10
−6
.
Conclusion:
The results of this study showed that the total
risk index of heavy metals and NO
3
through consumption of
greenhouse vegetables grown in Markazi province was below
one. Also, in the most age groups this index is greater for women
related to the men.

Keywords

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