Determination of Selected Heavy Metals Content and Health Risk Assessment of Cabbage Cultivated in Elalla Farmland, Mekelle, Ethiopia

Abstract

Like other countries in Ethiopia vegetables are vital edible plants which are a crucial part of the human food. One from these vegetables cabbage is a leafy green biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable for its dense leaved heads. The heavy metal content of cabbage may vary on the composition of the water and nature of soil. The study was aimed to determine concentration of selected heavy metals like Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cupper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) were measured in edible portion of cabbage and soils around four sites of cabbage production area in Elalla farmland Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia, and the potential health risk of heavy metal contamination to the local population via vegetable consumption, Transfer factor and daily intake of metal was also evaluated. The level of heavy metals in soil and Cabbage vegetable were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) that uses acetylene as fuel with air. The concentration of Cd (17.15 ± 1.26 to 17.52 ± 0.24) mg/Kg and Zn (325.10 ± 6.00 to 512.86 ± 3.13) mg/Kg in the soil sample exceeds from the limit the guideline of agricultural soil and the mean concentrations of Fe, Cu, Pb and Cr is below the guideline of agricultural soil. The mean concentration of Pb(3.060 ± 0.18 to 5.982 ± 0.11), Zn(144.662 ± 3.16 to 173.660 ± 2.18), Cr(11.825 ± 0.18 to 13.482 ± 0.37) and Cd(0.309 ± 0.01 - 0.712 ± 0.06) in all study sites of cabbage samples were exceeded the permissible limits set by FAO but Pb and Fe are below the permissible limit. The TF calculated were also investigated lower for all metals and for the value of HRI is below 1, according to the present study the result indicates that exposed population is assumed to be safe. As the results show that HRI of contamination in cabbage has less health risk to the consumers.

Keywords: - Cabbage, Heavy metals, Health Risk, Health Risk Assessment, Daily Intake Metal

DOI: 10.7176/CMR/11-6-03

Publication date: August 31st 2019