Junli Hu Fuyong Wu Shengchun Wu Zhihong Cao Xiangui Lin Ming Hung Wong. Bioaccessibility dietary exposure and human risk assessment of heavy metals from market vegetables in Hong Kong revealed with anin vitrogastrointestinal model. Chemosphere 2012 http://dx.doi.org-10.1016-j.chemosphere.2012.11.066.

Abstract

A systematic survey of heavy metal (HM) concentrations and bioaccessibilities in market vegetables in Hong Kong were carried out for assessing potential health risk to local inhabitants. The average concentrations of Cd Pb Cr Ni Cu and Zn in nine major groups of fresh vegetable varied within 0.007–0.053 0.05–0.17 0.05–0.24 0.26–1.1 0.62–3.0 and 0.96–4.3 mg kg⁻¹ respectively and their average bioaccessibilities varied within 21–96% 20–68% 24–62% 29–64% 30–77% and 69–94% respectively. The bioaccessible estimated daily intakes (BEDIs) of Cd Pb Cr Ni Cu and Zn from vegetables were far below the tolerable limits. The total bioaccessible target hazard quotient (TBTHQ) of the six HMs was 0.18 and 0.64 for average and high consumers respectively with Cd and leafy vegetable being the major risk contributors. Risk assessment of HMs from foods should be modified by taking bioaccessibility into account.