Assessment of the Risk of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Vegetable Crops

Abstract

Based on the extensive material, approaches to assessing the risk of accumulation of heavy metals in vegetable crops grown in open and protected ground, including hydroponics, are considered. A scheme for performing risk assessment is proposed, including such stages as hazard identification, exposure assessment, the dose-effect estimates, risk characterization, and risk management. For each stage, model approaches to quantifying the risk are presented, and examples of the characteristics of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk in different regions are given when consuming vegetable crops contaminated with HM. It is shown that the risk of accumulation of HM in vegetable crops can be managed with the help of various strains of microorganisms that promote both the immobilization of these metals in the soil and prevent their entry into the marketable part of vegetable products.