Bioaccumulation and Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Calcareous and Saline Soil-Vegetable System

A crucial challenge for both the environment and human health is the introduction of heavy metals into the biological domain, which encompasses the soil, crops, and humans. This study examined the pollution levels and potential health hazards associated with the toxic elements in soil and vegetables. Three different types of vegetables (n = 150) and their corresponding soils (n = 35) were collected to analyze the levels of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, Hg, and Ni and to assess the potential health risks to individuals who consume these local vegetables. The evaluation was conducted from various perspectives by utilizing different parameters, such as the pollution index, bioconcentration factor, transfer factor, hazard quotient, hazard index (HI), carcinogenic risk (CR), and beneficial elements for consumer health. These findings indicated that there was a correlation between Cd in soil and lime, as well as between Cd in plant and pH. Moreover, this study found a correlation between Pb in soil and organic carbon, whereas Pb in plant was correlated with pH. Additionally, other elements were correlated with pH. The heavy metal concentrations in the edible tissues of vegetables and soil were in the following order: Hg > Pb > Cd > Zn > Ni and Ni > Zn > Pb > Hg > Cd. The HI varied between 0.69 and 0.72, while CR ranged from adults 15E-2 to 1.7E-5 and for children1E-2 to 2.4E-4. These findings suggest regular monitoring of vegetable contamination is necessary to maintain health standards.