RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONCENTRATIONS OF HEAVY METALS IN MARKET-PURCHASED VEGETABLES IN HANGZHOU, CHINA

To investigate the extent of heavy metal contamination in market-purchased vegetables in Hangzhou, China, and assess the health risk of eating these vegetables, 19 vegetable samples were purchased at three major wholesale vegetable markets in Xiaoshan, Gouzhuang, and Xiasha. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn were measured, and the extent of heavy metal contamination in the vegetables was assessed according to related Chinese standards. The health risk of heavy metals in market-purchased vegetables was also assessed using the exposure assessment equation from the MMSOILS model of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Results indicated that Pb and Zn, with standard-exceeding rates of 94.7% and 100%, respectively, are the main metal contaminants in the vegetables sold in Hangzhou. All vegetables sold in Hangzhou in the summer of 2016 were seriously contaminated. According to our analysis using the exposure assessment equation, only the HQ(veg) of Cu was greater than 1 among the five metals studied. The results of the present study indicated that consuming vegetables sold in vegetable markets in Xiaoshan, Gouzhuang, and Xiasha may have adverse effects on human health because of their excessive Cu content. Based on the exposure assessment equation, the pollutant, Cu is considered hazardous to human health. The situation requires more attention not only from the consumers but also from the administrators.