Health Risk of Heavy Metals to the General Inhabitants in Guilin, China via Consumption of Vegetables

To estimate the human health risk of heavy metals associated with consumption of vegetables, a total of 566 samples of vegetables were collected from Guilin to analyse heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni) concentrations and the human risk. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni in vegetables were 0.010, 0.026, 0.049, 0.315, 2.454 and 0.036 mu g.g(-1)(fw), respectively. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of heavy metals were less than the provisional tolerable daily intakes values (PTDI). Individual metal target hazard quotient (THQ) values and total metal THQ value indicated that it was still safe for the general population of Guilin to consume locally produced vegetables. As, Cd, and Pb were the major components contributing to the potential health risk for local inhabitants via consumption of vegetables.