Incorporating in vitro bioaccessibility into human health risk assessment of heavy metals and metalloid (As) in soil and pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) from greenhouse vegetable production fields in a megacity in Northwest China

Abstract

The rapid development of greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) in densely populated areas may cause the heavy metal/metalloid accumulation in soil and pose a threat to human health. In this study, 180 pairs of topsoil and pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) samples were collected from GVP fields in Xi’an city in Northwest China to analyze health risks of Cd, Cr, Pb, and As in soil and pak choi combining in vitro bioaccessibility investigation. The results showed that Cd and Cr were common pollutants in both soil and pak choi. In the soil–pak choi system, the indexes of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk for adults and children were 1.53, 2.68, and 1.37 × 10−4, 8.14 × 10−5, respectively, thereby indicating the presence of heavy metal/metalloid health risks for both groups. Based on the results, procedures to mitigate heavy metal/metalloid contamination risks should be discussed more during the development of GVP in the largest city in Northwest China.