scholarly journals Health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements via consumption of vegetables irrigated with polluted river water in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minbale Aschale ◽  
Yilma Sileshi ◽  
Mary Kelly-Quinn

Abstract Background Vegetables grown at contaminated sites can take up and accumulate toxic and potentially toxic elements at concentrations that are toxic to human health. The present study determined the levels of potentially toxic elements/PTEs in irrigation water, soil and vegetable samples grown along contaminated river and assessed the potential health risks to consumers. Results The average concentrations of Mn, Sr and Cr in the irrigation water were higher than the international guideline values. The levels of As, Cr, B and Ni in most of the farm soils were also found to be higher than the guideline values. Other PTEs, although not exceeding the recommended limits were relatively high in the soil and water samples. The study also revealed that the mean levels of Cr, Cd and Fe in most vegetables were higher than the maximum recommended limits. Swiss chard was maximally contaminated with PTEs followed by lettuce, cabbage, Ethiopian kale, carrot and potato. Hence, frequent consumption of lettuce and Swiss chard may cause serious health risks to consumers. Conclusion The levels of many elements were varied with location, suggesting localized inputs of the various contaminants related to industrial and other activities that generate wastewater.

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALI HESHMATI ◽  
FERESHTEH MEHRI ◽  
JAVAD KARAMI-MOMTAZ ◽  
AMIN MOUSAVI KHANEGHAH

ABSTRACT The concentration of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in vegetable (potatoes, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, leeks, and carrots) and cereal (wheat and rice) samples collected from Iran were investigated by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In addition, we determined the health risks due to exposure to Cd and Pb through vegetable and cereal consumption by computing the estimated daily intake, the target hazard quotient (THQ), the total THQ, and the margin of exposure. The mean concentrations of Pb in potato, onion, tomato, lettuce, leek, carrot, wheat, and rice samples were measured as 0.029 ± 0.011, 0.016 ± 0.012, 0.007 ± 0.005, 0.022 ± 0.020, 0.040 ± 0.048, 0.029 ± 0.025, 0.123 ± 0.120, and 0.097 ± 0.059 mg kg−1 wet weight, respectively, and all were below the maximum allowable concentrations set by the European Union. The mean concentrations of Cd in potatoes, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, leeks, carrots, wheat, and rice samples were measured as 0.022 ± 0.013, 0.011 ± 0.009, 0.003 ± 0.003, 0.007 ± 0.005, 0.015 ± 0.024, 0.013 ± 0.011, 0.046 ± 0.043, and 0.049 ± 0.04 mg kg−1 wet weight, respectively, and all were below the permissible levels established by the European Union. The corresponding values for the estimated daily intake of Cd were acceptable and lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake. The THQ and total THQ values of Cd through consumption of all vegetables and cereals were lower than 1. The margin of exposure values for Pb in samples were >1, showing no significant human health risks for both potentially toxic elements. The findings of this study indicated there is no risk associated with exposure to Pb and Cd through the intake of selected vegetables and cereals in western Iran. HIGHLIGHTS


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Minbale Aschale ◽  
Yilma Sileshi ◽  
Mary Kelly-Quinn ◽  
Dereje Hailu

AbstractThe Akaki River and its tributaries, in the city of Addis Ababa, are polluted by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Sb, Zn, Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Pb, Fe, V, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, B, Sr and Ba) in varying degrees due to the significantly fast urban expansion and the industrial activities. The water samples collected from twenty-six different locations or sampling sites along the River and some of its tributaries were analyzed by ICP-MS to determine PTEs. The multivariate component analysis was used to evaluate the relationship and interdependency among the PTEs. The results showed that the mean concentrations for most of PTEs exceeded the recommended limits of drinking and irrigation water quality guidelines. A strong and positive relationship was observed among many of PTEs in the river water indicating common sources. The concentrations of many PTEs in the study area exceeded those previously reported and also varied with site or location, signifying localized contributions of the different contaminants associated with municipal, domestic, industrial, hospitals, garages and other activities. These findings of this study should help highlight and focus water quality management on key PTEs of concern and prioritize efforts to mitigate their release into surface waters in the city. Given the potential health implications of the PTEs mitigation measures should be sought as a matter of urgency by the relevant authorities in Ethiopia.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1307
Author(s):  
Jin-Young Choi ◽  
Hyeryeong Jeong ◽  
Kongtae Ra ◽  
Kyung-Tae Kim

Road and industrial origin particulate matters (PM) are a significant source of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), with health risks to the surrounding residents. In Korea for 60 years, although industries, roads and automobiles have increased aggressively, there are still few PTEs data in PM in road-deposited sediment (RDS) of industrial complexes (ICs). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the PTE composition of on-road PM10 from nine major ICs and its pollution degree in Korea and evaluate its human health risks. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index (PLI) elucidated that on-road PM10 were severely polluted by Sb, Zn, Ag and Pb. A combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and chemical tracers was used to define the PTEs sources. The results showed that non-exhaust emission from vehicles’ activity is the primary source of PTEs in on-road PM10, and industrial emissions are the secondary source. The riskiest pathway on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic by on-road PM10 with PTEs was in-gestion. Traffic origin PTEs including Pb, As, Sb and Cd had a more significant impact on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health than those of industrial origins. These results could help mitigate public health risks arising from on-road PM10 and improve air quality in ICs.


2022 ◽  
pp. 129-139
Author(s):  
R.E. Masto ◽  
J. George ◽  
V.A. Selvi ◽  
R.C. Tripathi ◽  
N.K. Srivastava

Author(s):  
Jiankang Wang ◽  
Bo Gao ◽  
Shuhua Yin ◽  
Dongyu Xu ◽  
Laisheng Liu ◽  
...  

Simultaneous ecological and health risk assessments of potentially toxic elements in soils and sediments can provide substantial information on their environmental influence at the river-basin scale. Herein, soil and sediment samples were collected from the Guishui River basin to evaluate the pollution situation and the ecological and health risk of potentially toxic elements. Various indexes were utilized for quantitatively assessing their health risks. Pollution assessment by geo-accumulation index showed that Cd had “uncontaminated to moderately polluted” status in the soils and sediments. Potential ecological risk index showed that the Guishui River basin was at low risk in general, but Cd was classified as “moderate or considerable ecological risk” both in the soils and sediments. Health risk assessment calculated human exposure from soils and indicated that both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of the selected potentially toxic elements were lower than the acceptable levels. Health risks posed by potentially toxic elements bio-accumulated in fish, stemming from sediment resuspension, were also assessed. Non-carcinogenic hazard index indicated no adverse health effects on humans via exposure to sediments; however, in general, Cr contributed largely to health risks among the selected potentially toxic elements. Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to the Guishui River basin in the future.


Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Jie Tang ◽  
Xin Hu ◽  
Jun-Qin Qiao ◽  
Hong-Zhen Lian

20 sets of indoor and outdoor size-segregated aerosol (SSA) samples (180 foils) were collected synchronously by using two 8 Stage Non-Viable Cascade Impactor from an office room in the central region of the megacity-Nanjing, China in winter and spring in 2016. The mass size distribution of SSAs was bimodal for outdoor SSAs and unimodal for indoor in both winter and spring. The crustal elements, such as K, Ca, Mg and Fe, were mainly distributed in the coarse fractions of SSAs while toxic elements such as As, Cd, Pb and Sb were enriched more in the fine fractions in both winter and spring. Moreover, indoor/outdoor (I/O) concentration ratios of SSAs and inorganic elements indicated the penetration of outdoor fine fractions of SSAs into indoor air. As, Pb, V and Mn showed higher inhalation bioaccessibility extracted by the artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF); while V, As, Sr and Cd showed higher inhalation bioaccessibility using the simulated lung fluid (SLF), suggesting differences in elemental inhalation bioaccessibility between ALF and SLF extraction. There were similar potential carcinogenic and accumulative non-carcinogenic risks via inhalation exposure to indoor and outdoor particle-bound toxic elements based on their bioaccessible concentrations. Therefore, the potential health risks to human posed by toxic elements in office rooms cannot be neglected via inhalation exposure of the fine airborne particles.


2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 765-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHELSEA N. KAMINSKI ◽  
GORDON R. DAVIDSON ◽  
ELLIOT T. RYSER

The transfer of Listeria monocytogenes to previously uncontaminated product during mechanical dicing of celery and its growth during storage at various temperatures were evaluated. In each of three trials, 275 g of retail celery stalks was immersed in an aqueous five-strain L. monocytogenes cocktail to obtain an average of 5.6 log CFU/g and then was diced using a hand-operated dicer, followed by sequential dicing of 15 identical 250-g batches of uninoculated celery using the same dicer. Each batch of diced celery was examined for numbers of Listeria initially and after 3 and 7 days of storage at 4, 7, and 10°C. Additionally, the percentage by weight of inoculated product transferred to each of 15 batches of uninoculated celery was determined using inoculated red stems of Swiss chard as a surrogate. Listeria transfer to diced celery was also assessed after removing the Swiss chard. L. monocytogenes transferred from the initial batch of inoculated celery to all 15 batches of uninoculated celery during dicing, with populations decreasing from 5.2 to 2.0 log CFU/g on the day of processing. At 10°C, Listeria reached an average population of 3.4 log CFU/g in all batches of uninoculated celery. Fewer batches of celery showed significant growth during storage at 4 and 7°C (P < 0.05). Swiss chard pieces were recovered from all 15 batches of celery, with similar amounts seen in batches 2 to 15 (P > 0.05). L. monocytogenes was also recovered from each batch of uninoculated celery after the removal of Swiss chard, with populations decreasing from 4.7 to 1.7 log CFU/g. Storing the diced celery at 10°C yielded a L. monocytogenes generation time of 0.87 days, with no significant growth observed during storage at 4 or 7°C. Consequently, mitigation strategies during dicing and proper refrigeration are essential to minimizing potential health risks associated with diced celery.


2014 ◽  
Vol 96 (10) ◽  
pp. 1501-1515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kebede Nigussie Mekonnen ◽  
Abayneh Ataro Ambushe ◽  
Bhagwan Singh Chandravanshi ◽  
Mesfin Redi-Abshiro ◽  
Robert Ian McCrindle

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