Ecological Risk Index and Their Associated Health Risk Evaluation of Toxic Heavy Metals in Cultivated Vegetable and Cereal in Different Peri-Urban Regions of an Indian Metropolitan City, Lucknow

The present study investigates the phytoaccumulation factor (PF), Ecological risk index (E RI ), and carcinogenic risk factor (CRs) of toxic heavy metals (THM s ) i.e. As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni in the agricultural soil, irrigation water, vegetables and cereals samples collected from peri-urban regions of Lucknow. The level of these metals was within the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) (FAO/WHO 2011) in agricultural soil while it was higher in irrigation water. The phytoaccumulation factor of Cd and Ni was very high in the edible parts of vegetable and cereal samples which show that they might have entered through metal-contaminated irrigation water even if not available in the soil. The contamination coefficient ( i f C) and Ecological risk factor ( i f E) of metals was detected in the range of low risk in all agricultural soil, whereas Ecological risk index of metals was found in the moderate risk which indicated a mild impact on the agro-ecosystem. The carcinogenic risk potential of metals was found more than the requisite value of 10 -4 in tomato, spinach, and wheat samples. This study indicates that the metals possess a moderate ecological risk and high carcinogenic risk potential through the consumption of metal-contaminated vegetables and cereals grown and sold in peri-urban regions and food markets.