Assessment of heavy metal pollution in soils and crops of industrial sites, Isfahan, Iran.

This study was planned to investigate the concentrations of heavy metal in soils and crops and estimate the potential health risks of metals to humans via consumption of crops grown at industrial sites (Zarrinshahr and Mobarakeh) and control site (Natanz) in Isfahan province, central Iran. The soils and food crops (wheat and rice grains and onion bulbs) were digested by acid digestion method and then were analyzed for Mn, Cu and Zn by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that the concentration of Zn in the soils of Mobarakeh was higher than the soils of Zarrinshahr and Natanz. The concentrations of Mn in the soils of Natanz and Mobarakeh were higher than the soils of Zarrinshahr. The concentration of Zn in the wheat was significantly higher than that rice and onion crops. The concentrations of Zn and Cu were higher in wheat crop in Mobarakeh compared with other cases. Results of this study revealed that the concentrations of Zn, Cu and Mn in the soils of studied sites were below than the maximum allowable levels. The average concentration of Zn, Cu and Mn metals in rice, wheat and onion crops were below than the maximum allowable levels of WHO guideline. The estimated daily intakes of heavy metals from the crops of three sites were lower than the tolerable daily intake recommended by FAO/WHO. Consequently, these crops cannot be an important source of Zn, Cu and Mn for risk to human health.