title: Health risk assessment from contaminated foodstuffs: a field study in chromite mining-affected areas northern Pakistan.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the potential health risk associated with toxic metals in contaminated foodstuffs (fruits, vegetables, and cereals) collected from various agriculture fields present in chromite mining-affected areas of mafic and ultramafic terrains (northern Pakistan). The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Pb were quantified in both soil and food samples. The soil samples were highly contaminated with Cr (320 mg/kg), Ni (108 mg/kg), and Cd (2.55 mg/kg), which exceeded their respective safe limits set by FAO/WHO. Heavy metal concentrations in soil were found in the order of Cr>Ni>Pb>Zn>Cd and showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher concentrations as compared to reference soil. The integrated pollution load index (PLI) value was observed greater than three indicating high level of contamination in the study area. The concentrations of Cr (1.80-6.99 mg/kg) and Cd (0.21-0.90 mg/kg) in foodstuffs exceeded their safe limits, while Zn, Pb, and Ni concentrations were observed within their safe limits. In all foodstuffs, the selected heavy metal concentrations were accumulated significantly (p < 0.001) higher as compared to the reference, while some heavy metals were observed higher but not significant like Zn in pear, persimmon, white mulberry, and date-plum; Cd in pear, fig and white mulberry; and Pb in walnut, fig, and pumpkin. The health risk assessment revealed no potential risk for both adults and children for the majority of heavy metals, except Cd, which showed health risk index (HRI) >1 for children and can pose potential health threats for local inhabitants. Graphical Abstract Heavy metals released from chromite mining lead to soil and foodstuff contamination and human health risk.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China. javednawab11@yahoo.com.|Department of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, University of Swat, Swat, 19130, Pakistan. javednawab11@yahoo.com.|Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan. javednawab11@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nawab
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China.|Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Zhongke Road 88, Chunxiao Beilun District, Ningbo, 315830, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China. sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.|Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan. sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.|Ningbo Urban Environment Observation and Research Station, Zhongke Road 88, Chunxiao Beilun District, Ningbo, 315830, China. sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sardar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Plant Sciences and Biodiversity, University of Swat, Swat, 19130, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aamir
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.|Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Isha
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shamshad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Anwarzeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Amjad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D010154:Pakistan; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Bioaccumulation; Contamination; Foodstuffs; Health risk; Heavy metals; Mining areas