Contents of heavy metal in vegetables and their potential risks to human health in Guangzhou city

Objective To investigate heavy metal contamination of vegetables and to assess its human health risk.Methods The contents of Cd,Hg,Pb,and As in 50 samples of 10 kinds of vegetable from Guangzhou were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS)and a ssessed according to the national standards and stand ards of International Commission on Radiological Protection(ICRP).Results Hg,Cd and As were the major heavy mental contaminants in the vegetables in Guangzhou.The standard exceed ing ratio of Pb,Hg,and Cd for the samples were 50%,50%,and 30%.The light pollution rate of leaf vege tables was 20%.The contaminations of rhizom evegetables and melons be longed to alertor safety level by comprehensive factor pollution index method.The individual health risk of heavy metal pollution was lower than the standard of ICRP.Conclusion The health risk of heavy metal pollution in vegetable in Guangzhou city is relative low and there is no significant risk for the populations exposed.