CONSUMER HEALTH RISK DUE TO INTAKE OF SOME POPULAR FRUIT VEGETABLES CULTIVATED IN WASTE WATER IRRIGATED FARM SOILShail KulshresthaAbstract Due to unique tendency of bio-accumulation of heavy metals are accumulated from soil in to the roots, tubers, stem, leaves and fruits of the vegetable plants and other crops; regular consumption of such farm produces for long as a dietary component may cause health hazards to mankind. This work presents the estimation of levels of accumulated Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cu in commonly consumed ten fruit vegetables and thereby computation of daily intake of metals through vegetables consumption to assess the health consequences of metal contaminated vegetables, grown on urban waste water irrigated farm soil, in terms of the metal pollution index (MPI) and consumer health risk index (HRI). The order of accumulated metals in fruit vegetables under study was Pb> Cr > Ni > Cu > Cd. The MPI (mg/Kg) values for all studied vegetables were < 1 and the order was Pointed gourd (1.57) > Lady finger (1.36) > Capsicum (1.30) > French bean (1.29) > Indian bean (1.24) > Bitter gourd (1.24) > Tomato (1.21) > Sponge gourd (1.18) > Cucumber (1.13) > Bottle gourd (1.08). The order of consumer health risk index (HRI) based on the daily intake of metal (DIM) through consuming vegetables was assessed as: Cd (289-459) > Pb (151- 230) > Ni (18.90- 31.75) > Cu (9.35- 18.27) > Cr (0.411-0.578). |