Chromium, Cadmium, Lead, and Arsenic Concentrations in Water, Vegetables, and Seafood Consumed in a Coastal Area in Northern Vietnam. (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ngoc, Nguyen Thi Minh; Chuyen, Nguyen Van; Thao, Nguyen Thi Thu; Duc, Nguyen Quang; Trang, Nguyen Thi Thu; Binh, Nguyen Thi Thanh; Sa, Hoang Cao; Tran, Nguyen Bao; Ba, Nguyen Van; Khai, Nguyen Van; Son, Ho Anh; Han, Pham Van; Wattenberg, Elizabeth V; Nakamura, Hiroyuki; Thuc, Pham Van
• Is Part Of: Environmental health insights. Volume 14(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: Heavy metals -- pollution -- water -- food contamination -- coastal commune -- Northern Vietnam; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Health risk assessment -- Periodicals; Environmental Health; Risk Assessment; Environmental health; Health risk assessment; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; Periodicals; 613.105
• DOI: 10.1177/1178630220921410
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1178-6302

Abstract

Background: Heavy metal contamination and related risks for the environment and human health are matters of increasing concern. Methods: The levels of 4 heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, and As) were evaluated in 2 water types (surface and well), 4 types of seafood (tiger shrimp, stuffed snail, snake-head fish, and catfish), and 27 types of vegetables (12 leafy vegetables, 4 pea plants, 4 tuber vegetables, and 7 herbs) that are commonly consumed in northern coastal communes located in Vietnam. Atomic absorption spectrometry was employed for quantification. Results: The mean concentrations of heavy metals detected in water, seafood, and vegetable samples exceeded the national permitted standards and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation values by at least 2-fold, 2.5-fold, and 5-fold for surface water, vegetables, and well water, respectively. The concentrations of all 4 heavy metals detected in seafood samples were higher than the standards. The levels of heavy metals decreased with increasing distance between the sample collection point and the pollution source. Conclusions: This is the first report of heavy metal contamination of common sources of food and water in the northern coastal area of Vietnam. Significantly, the concentrations of heavy metals detected in study samples exceeded the regulatory limits. These results underscore the importance of continued monitoring and the development of intervention measures to ensure that the quality of food and water meets established standards and protects the health of the local population.