Determination of potentially toxic elements in soil, river water and spinach samples from the Lesser Himalaya (Pakistan) by ICP-OES: Implications for food security and public health

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dc.contributor.authorJadoon, Waqar Azeem
dc.contributor.authorGul, Iram
dc.contributor.authorSajjad, Raja Umer
dc.contributor.authorVarol, Memet
dc.contributor.authorSaqib, Abdul
dc.contributor.authorMohany, Mohamed
dc.contributor.authorMilosevic, Marija
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-19T06:39:50Z
dc.date.available2026-06-19T06:39:50Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.departmentMalatya Turgut Özal Üniversitesi
dc.description.abstractPotentially toxic element (PTE) contamination of soils, irrigation water and vegetables poses food insecurity and human health concerns. This study investigated PTE contamination in water, soil, and spinach from two agricultural areas, Baffa and Ichrian, in the Mansehra District of Pakistan. The cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) contents of the samples were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to evaluate their contamination status and ecological risks, plant bioaccumulation factor (PBAF) and potential human health risks. The results showed that Baffa's water had higher Cd (0.77-2.93 mu g L-1) and Pb (0.10-10.98 mu g L-1) levels than Ichrian's water, but was safe for drinking and irrigation according to guideline values. Soil concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Pb were higher in Baffa, with Cd levels surpassing global upper continental crust values in all samples and exceeding the recommended levels set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) in 33 % of samples. Furthermore, the average Cd concentration in Baffa soils exceeded the European soil average. However, spinach PTE levels did not exceed guideline values. Contamination and ecological risk indices indicated moderate pollution in Baffa and low pollution in Ichrian, presenting moderate and low potential ecological risks, respectively. Based on plant bioconcentration factor analysis, minimal (<0.2) metal accumulation was recorded in spinach. The estimated daily intake (EDI) values revealed a metal ranking of Cr > Pb > Cd, with all values falling below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) levels, indicating no potential health risks. Target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) were below threshold level (<1), indicating no non-carcinogenic risk to the population. Although PTE levels in spinach were within safe limits, our findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of PTE concentrations in soils and a broader range of vegetables, as cumulative exposure through consumption of multiple types of vegetables could exceed threshold limits, posing potential health risks.
dc.description.sponsorshipKing Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [RSPD2024R758]
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was funded by the Researchers Supporting Project (RSPD2024R758) , King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Special thanks are given to Editor and anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions for improving this manuscript.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jfca.2025.107523
dc.identifier.issn0889-1575
dc.identifier.issn1096-0481
dc.identifier.orcid0000-0001-7709-5253
dc.identifier.orcid0000-0002-0368-1599
dc.identifier.orcid0000-0002-5750-3173
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-105000890642
dc.identifier.scopusqualityQ1
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2025.107523
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12899/5819
dc.identifier.volume142
dc.identifier.wosWOS:001459896000001
dc.identifier.wosqualityQ2
dc.indekslendigikaynakWeb of Science
dc.indekslendigikaynakScopus
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAcademic Press Inc Elsevier Science
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Food Composition and Analysis
dc.relation.publicationcategoryMakale - Uluslararası Hakemli Dergi - Kurum Öğretim Elemanı
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.snmzKA_WOS_20260612
dc.subjectPotentially Toxic Elements
dc.subjectContamination Indices
dc.subjectBioaccumulation
dc.subjectFood Security
dc.subjectHealth Risk Assessment
dc.titleDetermination of potentially toxic elements in soil, river water and spinach samples from the Lesser Himalaya (Pakistan) by ICP-OES: Implications for food security and public health
dc.typeArticle

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