Heavy Metal Contamination of Food Crops: Transportation via Food Chain, Human Consumption, Toxicity and Management Strategies

C.R., Vanisree; Sankhla, Mahipal Singh; Singh, Prashant; Jadhav, Ekta B.; Verma, Rohit; Awasthi, Kumud Kant; Awasthi, Garima; Nagar, Varad

doi:10.5772/intechopen.101938

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 114 publications

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“…[12] The presence of PTM, including nickel, antimony, copper, lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium, in the atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic environments can lead to bioaccumulation, which exerts wide-ranging impacts on the entire ecosystem and poses potentially adverse health consequences for all living organisms. [53][54][55][56] The extent of metal(loid) bioaccumulation from soil to crops exhibits variability across different tillage systems. The bioaccumulation factor, denoting the transfer of metal(loid) from soil to food products, is quantified by the ratio of metal(loid) concentration in the foodstuff to its concentration in the soil.…”

Section: Potentially Toxic Metal Content and Public Health Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogeochemical investigation of irrigation water in the vicinity of metallic ore deposits in Kiraz‐İzmir, Turkey: Understanding the crucial nexus between “geology and food safety”

Somay‐Altas

2024

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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The increasing drought due to climate change poses a threat to issues such as safe and accessible drinking water, food safety, and protection from diseases. The provision of water supply is vital for agricultural and livestock activities, which are commonly practiced around natural ore deposits. Examining traditional “irrigation water quality” methods alone is insufficient; investigating potentially toxic metal content in the region's waters is vital, especially around metallic ore deposits. This study focused on the Kiraz district in Turkey, known for its agricultural activities, to assess the impact of geogenic water pollution on irrigation water quality and its implications for food safety and human health. Geology determines nutrient availability, water resources, and land suitability for agriculture. Conventional irrigation water quality parameters indicate groundwater suitability for irrigation in the study area, considering Na%, sodium adsorption ratio, residual sodium carbonate, permeability index, Kelly ratio, magnesium hazard, and potential salinity. However, when examining the potential toxic metal content in the region, it was determined that the values of Al ranged from 96 to 8676 ppb, Ni values ranged from 27 to 360 ppb, and Sb concentrations varied between 9 and 53 432 ppb. Utilizing geogenically contaminated water for irrigation and its indiscriminate use in livestock, dairy, and food industries can lead to foodborne illnesses (cancer, endocrine disruptors, tuberculosis, antimony spots, thyroid tumors, goiter, neurologic and cardiovascular diseases) that endanger human health. The use of low‐quality water throughout the agricultural sector and food production chain increases food safety risks.

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Section: Potentially Toxic Metal Content and Public Health Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogeochemical investigation of irrigation water in the vicinity of metallic ore deposits in Kiraz‐İzmir, Turkey: Understanding the crucial nexus between “geology and food safety”

Somay‐Altas

2024

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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“…In each of these cases, however, plants are the main link responsible for the translocation of heavy metals from the soil up the food chain and consequently to the human body-the top of the food chain [16][17][18]. Consumed even in small amounts, they can accumulate in tissues and cause dysfunctions in the body [1,19,20]. Their forms of toxicity to humans include neurotoxicity (Cd, Cu, Zn), nephrotoxicity (Cd, Pb), carcinogenicity (Cr, Ni, Pb), hepatotoxicity (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb), immunological toxicity (Cd, Cr, Pb), cardiovascular toxicity (Cd, Pb), skin toxicity (Cr), reproductive and developmental toxicity (Cd, Pb), and genotoxicity (Cr) [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Allocation to Pea Plant Organs (Pisum sativum L.) from Soil during Different Development Stages and Years

2023

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The incorporation of heavy metals contained in soils into the food chain is mediated by plants. Plants show varying abilities to take up and accumulate these elements during vegetative growth. In this study, changes in the content, rate of uptake, accumulation, and translocation of heavy metals during six stages of development of pea plants were determined. In field experiments, two pea cultivars were cultivated in two consecutive growing seasons. The harvested plants were divided into the roots and aerial parts, and at full maturity the seeds were separated additionally. Significant changes in the content of the heavy metals in the separated parts and on average in the entire plant, as well as their bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), were most often noted up to the flowering stage of pea plants, after which these values usually did not change significantly. The highest rate of uptake of heavy metals per day of growth was noted between the full flowering stage and the stage when 50% of pods were of typical length. Their translocation factor (TF) was most often highest between the three-internode stage and the full flowering stage. The content, uptake, BAF, and TF of the heavy metals most often varied between years of the study, but did not significantly depend on the pea cultivar. The BAF indicates the potential of pea plants to hyperaccumulate lead and zinc and moderate accumulation of other heavy metals in their aerial parts. Excessive concentrations of lead and cadmium disqualified pea’s seeds to be used as human food, whereas excessive concentrations of lead prevented their use as fodder. Green mass of pea plants can be used as animal fodder according to the EU directives.

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“…Contamination through different food chains is the major pathway of heavy metal exposure for humans. Moreover, humans are the last link in the food chain so they are particularly exposed to the negative effects of heavy metals [4,6,7]. Thus, direct consumption of fruits and vegetables is mainly responsible for the potential contamination of human organisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Risk of Heavy Metals Related to Consumption of Vegetables in Areas of Industrial Impact in the Republic of Kazakhstan—Case Study for Oskemen

Boluspayeva

Jakubus

Spychalski

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Among various heavy metal sources the metallurgic industry is the most threatening because emitted metals presented are the chemical forms in which metals are found in soil are more bioavailable and thus very easily are introduced into the environment and spread in both soils and plants. In this study such a situation is presented and the potential negative effect of emitted metals on soil and vegetables is estimated. Therefore, the following indicators were used: bioconcentration factors calculated for the total amount of metals (BCF) as well as daily intake of metal (DIM) and health risk index (HRI). Analyzed soils and vegetables originated from allotment gardens located at different distances from local industrial plants. The greatest amounts of metals in investigated materials (soils and plants) were found for the industrial zone and the lowest for samples representing the suburban zone. Among the analyzed metals Zn showed the highest (223.94–2645.13 mg·kg−1 for soils and 9.14–49.28 mg·kg−1 for plants), and Cd the lowest levels (1.77–15.2 mg·kg−1 for soils and 0.05–0.46 mg·kg−1 for plants). Regardless of the metal, the lowest BCF values were calculated for plants from the industrial zone and the highest from the urban site. Generally, BCF values calculated for vegetables were low and comparable for carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage. BCF values obtained for beetroots were higher in comparison to other vegetables. Regardless of plants, DIM values for Cd and Pb were low and comparable. DIM values for Cu and Zn were higher, but simultaneously strongly differentiated depending on the analyzed vegetables. A similar tendency was found in the case of HRI. The highest values were recorded for Cu and Zn in tomatoes. Regardless of the individual metals, the calculated values for DIM and HRI indices increased in the following sequence: beetroot < cabbage < carrot < tomato. The Zn and Cu contents in the studied types of vegetables do not exceed the maximum permissible levels recommended by WHO/FAO. In contrast, Pb concentrations were higher than the imposed standards in all the analyzed vegetable samples. On the basis of obtained DIM and HRI indices, consumption of vegetables cultivated in industrial areas should be restricted due to health risks related to heavy metals contained in plants.

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Heavy Metal Contamination of Food Crops: Transportation via Food Chain, Human Consumption, Toxicity and Management Strategies

Cited by 8 publications

References 114 publications

Hydrogeochemical investigation of irrigation water in the vicinity of metallic ore deposits in Kiraz‐İzmir, Turkey: Understanding the crucial nexus between “geology and food safety”

Hydrogeochemical investigation of irrigation water in the vicinity of metallic ore deposits in Kiraz‐İzmir, Turkey: Understanding the crucial nexus between “geology and food safety”

Heavy Metal Allocation to Pea Plant Organs (Pisum sativum L.) from Soil during Different Development Stages and Years

Health Risk of Heavy Metals Related to Consumption of Vegetables in Areas of Industrial Impact in the Republic of Kazakhstan—Case Study for Oskemen

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