Concentrations of toxic elements and health risk assessment in arum grown in arsenic-contaminated areas of Bangladesh

Arum plant parts such as stem, leaf and corm and the corresponding farm soils were sampled from four Asimpacted districts of Bangladesh to assess the potential health risk to humans from toxic elements (TEs) including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The mean concentrations of As in arum leaf, stem and corm were 150 mu g/kg, 107 mu g/kg and 101 mu g/kg, respectively, whereas mean Cd in arum leaf, stem and corm were 115 mu g/kg, 261 mu g/kg and 180 mu g/kg, respectively and mean Pb in arum leaf, stem and corm were 595 mu g/kg, 403 mu g/kg and 577 mu g/kg, respectively. Daily dietary intake of As, Cd and Pb from sampled arum were 0.003, 0.008 and 0.021 mu g/kg bw for adults. As per capita intake of arum is low, hazard quotient (HQ) values for all TEs were found minimal, which reveals no appreciable health risk associated with arum consumption to the local inhabitants.