Dynamics of Metal Distribution in Cultivated Soil and Vegetables in Vicinity to Industrial Deposition: An Inference to Chemical Contamination of Food Chain

Abstract

The present study demonstrates accumulation and distribution of heavy metals Fe, Cr, Cd, Pb & Cu in cultivated soil and vegetables, and its potential implication to health risk via consumption of contaminated vegetables. Deposition of atmospheric metals results significant enrichment of metal contents Pb=1.6, Cu=1.4 & Cd=15.9 in cultivated soil. Elevated metal content in soil facilitate higher metal accumulation in growing vegetables through root uptake and also by leaf absorption. Results show noticeably higher metal translocation >1 from soil to roots TFr and shoots TFs, followed by higher metal accumulation in leafy shoots except R. sativa. In sampled vegetables, estimated hazard quotient HQ for individual metal does not exceed the safe limit, but integrated hazard quotient IHQ in L. esculanta is above the safe limit 1.33 and incredibly close in R. sativa 0.97 and S. oleracia 0.93 to cause health hazard.