Bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements in three mangrove species and human health risk due to their ethnobotanical uses.

Abstract

The aim of thisstudy was to assess probabilistic human health risk due to ethnobotanical usage of Avicennia officinalis, Porteresia coarctata and Acanthus ilicifolius. The study was conductedat thetannery outfall near Sundarban (Ramsar wetland, India)mangrove ecosystem affected by potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). Totalmetal concentrations (mg kg-1) were considerably higher in the pollutedrhizosphere namely, Cd (1.05-1.97), Cu (36.3-38.6), Cr (144-184), Hg (0.04-0.19), Mn (163-184), Ni (37.7-46.4), Pb (20-36.6), and Zn (97-104). Ecological risk index indicated low to moderate ecological risk in this site, whereas the ecological risk factor showed high potential ecological risk due to Cd pollution. BCRSequential extraction of metals showed more exchangeable fraction of Cd (47-55%), Cr (9-13%), Hg (11-13%), and Pb (11-15%), at the polluted site. Mercury, though present in trace amount in sediment, showed the highest bioaccumulation in all the three plants. Among the toxic trio, Hg showed the highest bioaccumulation in A. officinalis, Cd in P. coarctata but Pb has the lowest bioaccumulation potential in all the three species. Occasional fruit consumption of A. officinalis and dermal application of leaf, bark of A. officinalis (antimicrobial), A. ilicifolius (anti-inflammatory, pain reliever when applied on wounds) indicated negligible human health risk. However, long-term consumption of P. coarctata (wild rice variety) seeds posed health risk (THQ>1) both in adults and children age groups. This study concludes that nature of ethnobotanical use and metal contamination levels of the mangroverhizosphere can impact human health. The transfer process of potentially toxic elements from rhizosphere to plants to human body should be considered while planing pollution mitigation measures. Graphical Abstract.