Health risk assessment for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic heavy metal exposures from vegetables and fruits of Bangladesh

Most popular vegetables and fruits and their corresponding soil from the sub-urban industrial area of Bangladesh were collected and the concentration of carcinogenic (Pb, As, and Cd) and non-carcinogenic (Fe, Co, V, Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn, and Ni) heavy metals was determined. Health risk was evaluated by estimating daily heavy metal intake and computing cancer and non-cancer risks (ILCR and THQ) using probabilistic risk assessment model of US-EPA. Heavy metals in vegetables varied with vegetable species as well as metal types. Higher daily intake of As, Fe, Mn, and Pb was observed from the consumption of root and leafy vegetables. Moreover, the probability of an adult for developing cancer from the consumption of studied vegetables was greater than US-EPA threshold…