Human Health Risk of Some Heavy Metals Accumulated in Tomatoe, Cucumber, Potato, and Onion Grown in Dezful and Shushtar

Abstract

Background & Aims of the Study: This study aimed to evaluate the environmental risk and human health risk of heavy metals in some agricultural products cultivated in Dezful and Shushtar in 2020. Materials and Methods: In this research, 18 samples of 1 kg of crops grown on farms in the summer of 2020 were collected randomly from 6 stations in two areas of (Safiabad & Shamsabad farms) and two regions of Shushtar (Gelalak & Shoaibiyeh farms). ICP model Varian 710-ES measured heavy metals. Results: The average amount of zinc in tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, and onions grown in farms were 38.396, 23.440, 16.136, and 90.706 mg/kg, and in cultivated lands of Shushtar, 11.690, 6.730, 5.713, and 7.406 mg/kg were obtained. Analysis of variance showed that the heavy metals lead, cadmium, and chromium in crops of Dezful and Shushtar were significantly different (P<0.05), but in the case of zinc, copper, and nickel in tomato, cucumber, No significant difference was observed between potato and onion (P>0.05). In tomato and cucumber crops grown in Dezful and Shushtar and potatoes in Shushtar, the hazard values of cadmium, chromium, zinc, and copper were higher than 1. In the tomato crop and the potatoes grown in Shushtar, the lead metal risk index values were higher than 1. Nickel metal hazard index values were obtained in cultivated agricultural products of potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes in Shushtar and adults and children less than one. Conclusion: The carcinogenic rates of cadmium, chromium, and lead in the crops of Shushtar and were higher than the allowed limit of 4-10. The carcinogenicity rate of nickel metal in Shushtar and Dezful crops was 4-10 lower than the permitted limit.