Erbil residents' daily consumption of heavy metals via sewage and well water-irrigated veggies

Abstract

In Erbil city the farmers used both wastewater and well water for irrigation pupose. An inductively coupled plasma ICP was used to analyze heavy metals., including silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), chrome (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As), in wastewater, well water, agricultural soils, and vegetables (Chard, Celery, Arugula, Leek and Dill), as well as the health risks they pose in Erbil. Bio-concentration factor (BCF), daily intake (DI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risks (CR) were calculated to determine health concerns. Overall, metals were found in water, soil, and vegetables. The following is a rundown of the tendencies in these metals' Ni<Ag < Zn < Cr < Mn < Cd < As < Fe < Al < Pb, in the wastewater and well water and As<Ag <Cr< Fe< Cd< Ni< Zn< Mn< Al< Pb in the soil. In the vegetable samples, the mean values mg kg-1 varied from 0.

Heavy Metal Content Analysis and Risk assessment of Local and Imported Vegetables at the Erbil Market

“…Importantly, a THQ score greater than one does not inherently indicate an increased risk of cancer or other serious health problems. The THQ calculation adheres to EPA guidelines, ensuring a standardized and reliable assessment of potential health risks associated with exposure to toxic elements in the environment, including those found in veggies and other food-related substances [25].…”

“…Consistent eating may have negative health consequences even if the THQs of the food's constituent components are below unity on their own. Non-cancerous health problems may occur if the HI is greater than 1 [25].The equation for HI is:…”