Health risk from heavy metals via consumption of food crops grown on the soils in the vicinity of manganese mine

Emir Sahinovic, Hamdija Civic and Josip Jurkovic, Senad Murtic

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the content of heavy metals in the soils as well as in food crops in the vicinity of the manganese mine ‘Buzim’, and to assess the health risks of consumption of these plants on residents. Analyses of the heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn) in soils and plant samples was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and the health risks of food crops consummation was determined using a hazard quotient (HQ). The results of this study showed that the content of Mn and other examined heavy metals in soils and edible parts of onion, cabbage, raspberry and strawberry was lower than the permissible limits established by the legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These results lead to the conclusion that the consumption of food crops grown on soils at the examined area, from the point of view of heavy metals, should not be dangerous to human health.

Keywords: environment; fruits; health; vegetables

Date published: 2020-04-30