Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Environmental pollutants significantly impact health and quality of life. High levels of harmful metals in drinking water, vegetables, and soil can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, the prevalence of cancer is notably high, and heavy metals are...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| author | Nafeesa Khatoon Sartaj Ali Azhar Hussain Jia Huang Zengli Yu Hongyan Liu |
| author_facet | Nafeesa Khatoon Sartaj Ali Azhar Hussain Jia Huang Zengli Yu Hongyan Liu |
| author_sort | Nafeesa Khatoon |
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| description | Environmental pollutants significantly impact health and quality of life. High levels of harmful metals in drinking water, vegetables, and soil can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, the prevalence of cancer is notably high, and heavy metals are considered among the possible risk factors. In this study, the distribution of heavy metals, e.g., Cd, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ni, in the drinking water, vegetables, and soil in the Gilgit and Skardu Districts was assessed. A geo-accumulation index was combined with a deterministic technique to examine potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic impacts on human health. Cr and Ni levels in drinking water exceeded the permissible limits from both districts. Drinking water had a HQ > 1 for Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn, posing significant non-carcinogenic health effects. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) by drinking water for Cd, Cr, and Ni in Gilgit (0.0087, 0.55, and 0.0048) and Skardu (0.071, 0.21, and 0.014) indicated a considerable cancer risk (>1 × 10<sup>−4</sup>) for adults. The cancer risk for vegetable intake was observed within the safe limit, while LCR_ingetsion > LCR_dermal and LCR_inhalation for the soil samples in both regions. These findings highlight the need for regular monitoring, enhanced waste management, and advanced purification methods to reduce cancer risk, lower heavy metal contamination, and safeguard public health in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e98be1e37ea0476ea9bb5943e83cef60 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj-art-e98be1e37ea0476ea9bb5943e83cef602025-01-24T13:50:54ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-12-01131510.3390/toxics13010005Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, PakistanNafeesa Khatoon0Sartaj Ali1Azhar Hussain2Jia Huang3Zengli Yu4Hongyan Liu5Department of Medical Genetics, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, ChinaDepartment of Agriculture & Food Technology, Karakorum International University Gilgit, Gilgit 15100, PakistanDepartment of Agriculture & Food Technology, Karakorum International University Gilgit, Gilgit 15100, PakistanDepartment of Medical Genetics, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, ChinaCollege of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaDepartment of Medical Genetics, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, ChinaEnvironmental pollutants significantly impact health and quality of life. High levels of harmful metals in drinking water, vegetables, and soil can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, the prevalence of cancer is notably high, and heavy metals are considered among the possible risk factors. In this study, the distribution of heavy metals, e.g., Cd, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ni, in the drinking water, vegetables, and soil in the Gilgit and Skardu Districts was assessed. A geo-accumulation index was combined with a deterministic technique to examine potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic impacts on human health. Cr and Ni levels in drinking water exceeded the permissible limits from both districts. Drinking water had a HQ > 1 for Cd, Cr, Ni, and Mn, posing significant non-carcinogenic health effects. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) by drinking water for Cd, Cr, and Ni in Gilgit (0.0087, 0.55, and 0.0048) and Skardu (0.071, 0.21, and 0.014) indicated a considerable cancer risk (>1 × 10<sup>−4</sup>) for adults. The cancer risk for vegetable intake was observed within the safe limit, while LCR_ingetsion > LCR_dermal and LCR_inhalation for the soil samples in both regions. These findings highlight the need for regular monitoring, enhanced waste management, and advanced purification methods to reduce cancer risk, lower heavy metal contamination, and safeguard public health in the region.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/1/5environmental pollutantstoxic metalhealth riskcancerexposure pathwaysnon-carcinogenic risk |
| spellingShingle | Nafeesa Khatoon Sartaj Ali Azhar Hussain Jia Huang Zengli Yu Hongyan Liu Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan Toxics environmental pollutants toxic metal health risk cancer exposure pathways non-carcinogenic risk |
| title | Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
| title_full | Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
| title_short | Evaluating the Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Health Risks of Heavy Metals Contamination in Drinking Water, Vegetables, and Soil from Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan |
| title_sort | evaluating the carcinogenic and non carcinogenic health risks of heavy metals contamination in drinking water vegetables and soil from gilgit baltistan pakistan |
| topic | environmental pollutants toxic metal health risk cancer exposure pathways non-carcinogenic risk |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/1/5 |
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