Human health risk assessment and potentially harmful element contents in the cereals cultivated on agricultural soils

Abstract

Potentially harmful element (PHE) contents were investigated in six species of cereals in southern Poland, with human health risk implications assessed afterwards. The PHE contents belonged to the following ranges (mg/kg wet weight): As below the limit of detection ( oat (HQ = 0.38) > maize (HQ = 0.02). The total non-carcinogenic risk value of the statistical daily consumption of cereals was acceptable low (HQ = 0.58). The acceptable cancer risk (CR) level of 1.0 × 10−5 investigated only for As was not exceeded under any of the intake scenarios. Concerning the mean As content in cereals consumed daily in statistical amounts the CR value was equal to 5.1 × 10−8. The health risk value according to the Pb content in cereals using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was equal to 1.27, indicating an acceptable low risk.