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 ( n-ary sumation THQ)} associated with food consumption was found to exceed in rice and maize, indicating that non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metals in these two dietary items may offer possible health problems for the population. The hazard index (HI) value was 1.4 x 101, indicating that the food items may encounter detrimental health consequences. However, the carcinogenic risk (CR) linked with total As from most of the food items (rice, wheat and maize) exceeded the acceptable level. From a human health perspective, our analysis revealed that the studied food items were declared safe for residents living near the Rampal power plant area in Bagerhat, Bangladesh. However, the present results suggest that regular monitoring of these essential and toxic elements in food items as well as in soil and irrigation water around the study area is necessary to prevent excessive build-up of these elements in the food chain.