Malondialdehyde and heavy metal contents in Piper betel: Possible risks of heavy metals in human health

The content of heavy metals in the food chain has grown due to human activities and rapid industrial growth. The accumulation of heavy metals in P. betel leaves and the related threat to human health were analyzed by using the AAS that was collected from eleven locations inside the city of Dhaka. High MDA contents indicated contamination in P. betel samples and can regulate biochemical activity by different potential toxic elements (PTEs). The P. betel samples revealed the highest mean concentrations of As (2.09 mg/kg), Pb (0.06 mg/kg), Mn (218 mg/kg), Ni (1.55 mg/kg), Cu (10 mg/kg), Zn (2.6 mg/kg), Cr (5.1 mg/kg), and Cd (0.003 mg/kg) and certain metal exceed the guideline value. Mn, Cr, and As mean values at the research sites are higher than the permitted concentration range. Among all metals, Mn was the most accumulated metal in leaves and enhanced hazard index (HI) and non-carcinogenic risk for children. Individual metal THQ values were all less than 1 (except Mn), indicating that consuming only one metal from betel samples would not pose a serious risk to one's health. However, HI value (> 1) indicates a possible non-carcinogenic health risk to urban city people, especially in children. The assessment revealed that the allowable range of Cr and As content in betel leaves may enhance the carcinogenic risk (CR). Among heavy metals, the CR value of Cr indicated an enhanced cancer risk in children at L3, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, L10, and L11 sites. This study shows from a health perspective that people who eat contaminated betel leaves are continuously exposed to metal pollution, which can have both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic effects.