Health Risk Assessment Associated with Heavy Metals Pollution in Sandy Clay Loam Soils and Vegetables Irrigated by Wastewater: a Case Study of Bahawalpur City

The use of wastewater for irrigation of vegetables is a common practice in many developing countries. However, this can pose a potential health risk to consumers due to the presence of different heavy metals in the wastewater. Current study conducted a comprehensive health risk assessment of heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated Aridisols (Sandy Clay Loam, Alkaline) and vegetable samples collected from urban and peri-urban areas of Bahawalpur city. These vegetable samples were evaluated for the associated consumer health concerns utilising a variety of tools including metal accumulation index, daily metal intake, health risk index and target hazard quotient. Samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy to assess different heavy metals concentration i.e. arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel. Findings of the study indicated that pH levels and total dissolved solids in wastewater used for irrigation were within safe limits, while cadmium, chromium, lead and nickel concentrations exceeded permissible limits or were found within the marginal limits. Specifically, vegetables exhibited metals accumulation factors greater than one for nickel, cadmium and chromium, with concentrations surpassing The World Health Organization guidelines. Target hazard quotient also showed higher values than 1, determines that due to the consumption of such vegetables the consumer health is at risk. It was concluded from the results that wastewater and wastewater irrigated vegetables both contains or may contain high concentration of heavy metals and serious health hazards may be faced by the consumers eating vegetables that are irrigated with wastewater. It emphasizes the critical necessity for strict management procedures, ongoing monitoring and subsequent efforts to reduce risks in order to protect the public's health and guarantee food safety for the region's regular vegetable consumers.