Probabilistic non-carcinogenic risk assessment of nitrate in vegetables: A cross-sectional study in Minab city

The aims of this study were to determine the concentration levels of nitrates in different types of vegetables, as well as the probabilistic non-carcinogenic risk assessment of nitrate in vegetables. Vegetables were classified into three groups included leafy (lettuce and cabbage), tuberous (potato and onion), and bush (tomato and cucumber) products. Three samples of each ۲۰ vegetable types were obtained from agricultural lands and the nitrate levels were measured using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system (KNAUER) equipped with a UV detector (UV-Detector-K۲۵۰۰). The mean nitrate concentration levels in leafy, bush and tuberous vegetables were ۶۸۵.۸۷±۵۲.۸۷, ۱۵۳.۴۸±۲۰.۱۵ and ۶۳.۵۸±۲۷.۳۲ mg/kg, respectively. The mean of hazard quotient (HQ) in adults and children in region ۱ were ۰.۰۲۸ and ۰.۰۹۶; for region ۲ were as ۰.۰۲۷ and ۰.۰۹۶; and for region ۳ were ۰.۰۲۸ and ۰.۰۹۰, respectively. The HQ values due to nitrate for adults and children in three regions were ˂۱, hence consumers are in acceptable health risk. While nitrates in vegetables were within acceptable health risk range, ongoing monitoring and management of nitrate levels are necessary to mitigate potential health hazards.

Keywords:

Non-carcinogenic Risk Assessment , Nitrate , Vegetables , Minab