Abstract
This paper investigated the health risks due to metal concentrations in soil and vegetables from the island province in the Philippines and the potential ecological risks. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in vegetables and soil in six municipalities of the province were analyzed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) Perkin Elmer Optima 8000. It was recorded that all metal concentrations in the soil, except for Cd, exceeded the soil quality standard (SQS). The concentration of Fe and Mn was highest among other metals. The Nemerow synthetical pollution index (Pn) in all soil samples was under Class V which means severe pollution level. Likewise, the risk index (RI) of soil ranged from high to very high pollution risk. Most of the metal concentrations in the vegetables analyzed also exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL). All health hazard indices (HHIs) were less than 1, which means potential low non-carcinogenic risk to human population by vegetable consumption. However, it was found that concentration of Cr and Ni in vegetables is a potential health hazard having concentrations exceeding the maximum threshold limit. A 75% temporary consumption reduction of bitter melon, eggplant, sweet potato tops, and string beans produced from two municipalities may be helpful in reducing exposure to target metals. Additional studies are needed to confirm this recommendation. Spatial correlation analysis showed that six out of target metals had datasets that were more spatially clustered than would be expected. The recorded data are useful for creation of research direction, and aid in developing strategies for remediation, tools, and programs for improving environmental and vegetable quality monitoring.
Highlights
The island province of Marinduque in the Philippines, with farming as the major source of income of the population, had been recognized as one of the country’s largest copper reserves
Data presented below are helpful in determining research directions, creating strategies in soil remediation, soil quality monitoring programs for vegetable quality monitoring, creation of in situ detection tools for metals specific for vegetables and crops, and among other related techniques helpful for reducing health risks
Spatial correlation technique was employed to analyze further addition, though Cd was not detected in soil, the Cd concentration in vegetables shows that the relationship of metal concentrations in vegetables that were collected in proximity it is spatially correlated to nearby environmental media having a Moran’s I and p-valueto where the soil samples originated
Summary
The island province of Marinduque in the Philippines, with farming as the major source of income of the population, had been recognized as one of the country’s largest copper reserves. Crops and vegetables grown in contaminated soils can accumulate significant levels of hazardous metals, posing serious health concerns to humans if consumed [18]. There have been several studies on heavy metal contamination in water and sediment [21–24] in the island province; metal concentrations in soil and vegetables were not examined. The levels and trends of metal concentrations in soil and vegetables from the island province in the Philippines, the potential. The vegetables were chosen from the top produced and consumed vegMarinduque is an island province, 53,344 households in the Republic the etables in Marinduque, namely string with beansabout (Vigna unguiculata), sweet potato topsof(Ipo◦ N, 121.9032◦ E. The island does not have a distinct wet climate with annual mean temperature of 27from wise, composite soil samples were collected each municipality across the province and dry season as precipitation occurs year. Sample collection started in 2018 and ended in 2019 completing one year season
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