Human health risks assessment of toxic metals via water, food, and soil: A case study of Northern areas (Ghizer and Gilgit) of Pakistan

作者：Nafeesa Khatoon, Sartaj Ali, Azhar Hussain, Jia Huang, Zengli Yu, Hongyan Liu · 发表于：Results in Engineering · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.rineng.2024.103333 · 被引用次数：24 · 研究领域：Heavy metals in environment、Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity、Radioactivity and Radon Measurements

• Health concerns have arisen worldwide as a result of contaminated food and water. This study aimed to determine the levels of selected heavy metals cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) in various sources such as drinking water, vegetables, and soil in districts Ghizer and Gilgit, Pakistan. Human health risks were assessed using deterministic indices, a probabilistic approach, and multivariate analysis. • An Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS-700, Perkin Elmer, USA) was used to analyze heavy metal levels. • A hazard index (HI) indicates significant non-carcinogenic health risks in Ghizer and Gilgit drinking water and vegetables (HI > 1). Gilgit soil HI values were exceeded more than one due to dermal contact, while HI > 1 due to oral and dermal exposure in Ghizer. • Furthermore, drinking water samples and vegetables from both districts showed cancer risk (CR) > 1× 10 −4 . It was found that the lifetime cancer risk for Ghizer was higher than that for Gilgit, based on soil dermal and oral contact. Monte Carlo Simulation revealed higher adverse health risks in child as compared to adults. • As a result of exposure to toxic metals, drinking water and consuming vegetables have higher cancer-causing risks. Thus, we recommend hard-and-fast regulations for drinking water and vegetables in both districts. Health concerns have arisen worldwide as a result of contaminated food and water. This study was aimed to determine the levels of selected heavy...