Aithani Deeksha, Jyethi Darpa Saurav, Yadav Amit Kumar, Siddiqui Zainab, Khillare Pandit Sudan
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India.
Theoretical and Applied Sciences Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, North-East Centre, Tezpur, Assam, India.
Environ Geochem Health. 2024 May 2;46(6):180. doi: 10.1007/s10653-024-01948-x.
Urban agriculture is common in fertile river floodplains of many developing countries. However, there is a risk of contamination in highly polluted regions. This study quantifies health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown in the floodplain of the urban river 'Yamuna' in the highly polluted yet data-scarce megacity Delhi, India. Six trace elements are analyzed in five kinds of vegetable samples. Soil samples from the cultivation area are also analyzed for elemental contamination. Ni, Mn, and Co are observed to be higher in leafy vegetables than others. Fruit and inflorescence vegetables are found to have higher concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn as compared to root vegetables. Transfer Factor indicates that Cr and Co have the highest and least mobility, respectively. Vegetable Pollution Index indicates that contamination levels follow as Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn. Higher Metal Pollution Index of leafy and inflorescence vegetables than root and fruit vegetables indicate that atmospheric deposition is the predominant source. Principal Component Analysis indicates that Pb and Cr have similar sources and patterns in accumulation. Among the analyzed vegetables, radish may pose a non-carcinogenic risk to the age group of 1-5 year. Carcinogenic risk is found to be potentially high due to Ni and Cr accumulation. Consumption of leafy vegetables was found to have relatively less risk than other vegetables due to lower Cr accumulation. Remediation of Cr and Ni in floodplain soil and regular monitoring of elemental contamination is a priority.
都市农业在许多发展中国家肥沃的河流洪泛区很常见。然而，在污染严重的地区存在污染风险。本研究对印度污染严重但数据匮乏的特大城市德里城市河流“亚穆纳河”洪泛区种植的蔬菜消费所带来的健康风险进行了量化。对五种蔬菜样本中的六种微量元素进行了分析。还对种植区的土壤样本进行了元素污染分析。观察发现，叶菜类蔬菜中的镍、锰和钴含量高于其他蔬菜。与根菜类蔬菜相比，果菜类蔬菜中的铬、铅和锌含量更高。转移因子表明，铬和钴的迁移率分别最高和最低。蔬菜污染指数表明污染水平顺序为铬＞镍＞铅＞锌。叶菜类和果菜类蔬菜的金属污染指数高于根菜类和果菜类蔬菜，这表明大气沉降是主要来源。主成分分析表明，铅和铬在来源和积累模式上相似。在所分析的蔬菜中，萝卜可能对1至5岁年龄组构成非致癌风险。由于镍和铬的积累，致癌风险被发现可能很高。由于铬的积累较低，发现食用叶菜类蔬菜的风险相对低于其他蔬菜。对洪泛区土壤中的铬和镍进行修复以及定期监测元素污染是当务之急。
