Pesticide and Heavy Metal Contamination: Potential Health Risks of Some Vegetables and Fruits from a Local Market and Family Farm in Ongkharak District of Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand

Abstract

Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides were preliminarily determined in 33 vegetable samples from Ongkharak market (N = 13) and family farm (N = 20) in Sisa Krabue community at Ongkharak district of Nakhon Nayok province by a GT-test kit. More than 60% of samples contained pesticides, and eight samples had pesticides at harmful level, namely Alpinia galanga (Linn.) Swartz., Coriandrum sativum Linn., Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swing., Ocimum sanctum Linn., and Carica papaya Linn. from the Ongkharak market, and Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb., Ocimum sanctum Linn., Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) Swing. from the family farm. Then, heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Fe, Cr, Zn, and Cu) were determined in eight samples by an atomic absorption spectroscopy. Our new finding showed that Pb level exceeded permissible limit in O. sanctum Linn., C. aurantifolia (Christm) Swing., C. papaya Linn., purchased from the local market, and C. aurantifolia (Christm) Swing. and O. sanctum Linn. from the family farm. In addition, all samples had Fe and Cr levels above permissible limits, but Zn and Cu levels were below permissible limits. Moreover, 100.0%, 62.5%, 37.5%, 37.5%, and 25.0% of the analyzed samples had target hazard quotients above 1 for Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Zn, respectively, which indicated potential health risks involving unsafe consumption from each heavy metal. Hazard index also indicated the health risks for female and male via consumption of each vegetable contaminated with multiple heavy metals. O. sanctum Linn., especially from the local market, had the highest risk.