Presence of heavy metals in pulses and cereals ploughed adjacent to the Rampal power plant: a probabilistic health risk assessment

In a recent study, we examined the concentrations of heavy metals, namely lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu), in seven categories of food, specifically rice, wheat, maize, lentil, black gram, mung bean and pea (B-22). The ranges of Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Cr and Pb in the food items were 0–4.7, 1.1–8.5, 0.01–8, 0.001–0.2, 0–4.7 and 0–0.8 mg per kg fresh weight (fw), respectively. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of As, Ni and Cr exceeded the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI), stipulating that these elements potentially originated from dietary consumption. The cumulative risk {target hazard quotient (∑THQ)} associated with food consumption was found to exceed in rice and maize, indicating that non-carcinogenic risks…