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. 2019 Jun;41(3):1223-1234.
doi: 10.1007/s10653-018-0207-8. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Bioaccumulation of arsenic and fluoride in vegetables from growing media: health risk assessment among different age groups

Tasneem G Kazi  1 , Kapil D Brahman  2 , Jameel A Baig  2 , Hassan I Afridi  2
Affiliations

Bioaccumulation of arsenic and fluoride in vegetables from growing media: health risk assessment among different age groups

Tasneem G Kazi et al. Environ Geochem Health. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate the arsenic (As) and fluoride (F-) concentrations in growing media (stored rainwater and soil), of district Tharparkar, Pakistan. The bioaccumulation/transportation of As and F from growing media to different types of vegetables (wild cucumis, Indian squish and cluster bean) was evaluated. Total concentrations of As and F- in stored rainwater samples were observed up to 585 μg/L and 32.4 mg/L, respectively, exceeding many folds higher than WHO provisional guideline values. The As and F- contents in soil samples of nine agricultural sites were found in the range of 121-254 mg/kg and 115-478 mg/kg, respectively. The highest contents of As and F- were observed in wild cucumis as compared to Indian squish and cluster bean (p < 0.05), grown in the same agricultural field. The bioaccumulation factors of As and F- were to be > 4.00, indicating the high rate of transportation of As and F- from growing media to vegetables. A significant positive correlation of As and F- in vegetables with their concentrations in soil and water was observed (r > 0.60 with p < 0.05). The risk assessment elucidated that the population of different age group consuming local vegetables and drinking water contaminated with As and F- may have adverse health effects.

Keywords: Arsenic; Bioaccumulation; Estimated daily intake; Fluoride; Soil; Vegetable; Water.

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