Abstract
The study reveals links between disturbed geochemical environment being the result of mining and smelting activities with consumers exposure to toxic and carcinogenic metallic trace elements (MTEs). This study focused on evaluation on vegetable and soil pollution in family allotment gardens (FAGs), considering in the aspects of consumer exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc. Study material consisted of 219 soil samples from FAGs located in one of the most polluted areas in Poland, and 64 samples of edible plants. Contents of analyzed MTEs in topsoil in the studied area were spatially diversified and depended primarily on the location of industrial pollution sources. The average content of cadmium (0.52 mg kg−1 fresh weight) and lead (0.57 mg kg−1 fresh weight) in vegetables exceeded maximum permissible concentrations according to the European Quality Standards. Human health risk assessment was based on three scenarios of dietary exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc. In every scenario the highest average daily dose for all three elements was estimated for potatoes which are one of the main components of Poles’ diet. Presented study showed that consumption of vegetables cultivated in FAGs located in Silesia Province may pose a significant health risk for their consumers.
Highlights
The study reveals links between disturbed geochemical environment being the result of mining and smelting activities with consumers exposure to toxic and carcinogenic metallic trace elements (MTEs)
First family allotment gardens (FAGs) in Europe appeared at the end of the 18th century as charitable aid for city dwellers, in connection with deteriorating living conditions
The first mention of allotment gardens existing in the province come from 1893, it is an instruction for cultivating the plot of land by Upper Silesian miners and steelworkers, developed by Heinrich Kochl from Siemianowice Śląskie
Summary
The study reveals links between disturbed geochemical environment being the result of mining and smelting activities with consumers exposure to toxic and carcinogenic metallic trace elements (MTEs). The aim of the study was to assess the vegetable and soil contamination collected from family allotment gardens in selected cities of the Silesia Province, depending on their location. Vegetable contamination with metallic trace elements was considered in terms of consumer exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc.
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