Human health risks of trace metals through the dietary intake of potato tubers and exposures of potato cultivating soils: A case study of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Trace metal contamination in soil and farm products is common in Bangladesh, which enhances public awareness. Most of the studies in our country ignored potential human health risks from different routes of exposures to trace metals present in potato tubers and potato-growing soils. Objectives: The study objectives were to measure trace metals pollution level in soils, and to evaluate human health risks due to dietary intake of potato tubers, as well as ingestion, dermal and inhalation exposures of potato-cultivating soils of Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. Methods: An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, and Mn in the extract of soils and potato tubers. The study employed contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) to evaluate the level of soil pollution. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risks were assessed based on calculated Hazard Quotient and Cumulative Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (∑ILCR), respectively. Results: A threshold of ''moderate contamination'' (1.0 ≤ CF ILCRSoil ingestion >ILCRDermal adsorption >ILCRSoil inhalation. Conclusion: The agricultural soils of Bangladesh are becoming progressively degraded due to multiple contamination causes along with trace metals. The investigation recommended that future traceability efforts focus on locating possible sites of entry for toxic metals into the nation's food supply chain.

Keywords

• Soil contamination
• Pollution load index
• Ecological risk index
• Exposure pathways
• Hazard index
• Incremental lifetime cancer risk