*Result*: Assessment of human health risk associated with heavy metals from the consumption of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) exposed to low-quality irrigation water of different types.

Title:
Assessment of human health risk associated with heavy metals from the consumption of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) exposed to low-quality irrigation water of different types.
Authors:
Manegabe BJ; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa., Msagati TAM; Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa., Ntabugi MK; Department of Environmental Sciences, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo., Dewar JB; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, Unisa Science Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Source:
International journal of environmental health research [Int J Environ Health Res] 2026 Feb; Vol. 36 (2), pp. 290-304. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jun 22.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9106628 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1369-1619 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09603123 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Environ Health Res Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: London : Chapman & Hall, c1991-
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Humans health risk; Swiss chard; heavy metals; irrigated soil; irrigation water
Substance Nomenclature:
0 (Metals, Heavy)
0 (Water Pollutants, Chemical)
0 (Soil Pollutants)
0 (Wastewater)
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250623 Date Completed: 20260202 Latest Revision: 20260202
Update Code:
20260202
DOI:
10.1080/09603123.2025.2518171
PMID:
40545623
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Population growth requires food production and supports wastewater reuse for irrigation, practice which introduces toxic metals into soil, severely affecting plant and human health. Water/vegetables/soil samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn, and Fe utilizing ICP-MS. Adults and children health risk was evaluated using hazard quotient (HQ). Electrical conductivity, pH, and organic matter varied according to irrigation water and soil samples. Heavy metals between 0.05 and 781.97 mg/kg were present at lower concentrations in vegetables irrigated with tap water (TV1), whereas heavy metals between 1275 and 47 mg/kg exhibited reduced concentrations in soil exposed to tap water (TS1). All the heavy metal concentrations between 0.03 and 219.7 mg/L were lower in tap water. HQ associated with 77.8% metals intake via TV1 was lower in both children and adults. While the HQ of almost 85% metal consumption by adults through vegetables was below one, HQ of nearly 83% of metals consumption exceeded one. This implies that the risk associated with heavy metals in children was almost 100% high than adults. Therefore, remediation technology using volcanic adsorbent rocks is suggested to remove toxic metals from water used to irrigate vegetables to unsure food security and human health.*