Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources

Background: Toxic metal accumulation in food crops poses significant public health risks. In particular, chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice crops can lead to human exposure through dietary intake, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and assessment. Objective: This study...

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Main Authors: Mehwish Aslam, Zafar Iqbal, Kafeel Ahmad, Faiza Zubair, Naila Riaz, Asma Ashfaq, Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Muhammad Irfan Ashraf, Saif Ullah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Jinnah University for Women 2025-08-01
Series:RADS Journal of Biological Research & Applied Science
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Online Access:http://www.jbas.juw.edu.pk/index.php/JBAS/article/view/705
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author Mehwish Aslam
Zafar Iqbal
Kafeel Ahmad
Faiza Zubair
Naila Riaz
Asma Ashfaq
Ijaz Rasool Noorka
Muhammad Irfan Ashraf
Saif Ullah
author_facet Mehwish Aslam
Zafar Iqbal
Kafeel Ahmad
Faiza Zubair
Naila Riaz
Asma Ashfaq
Ijaz Rasool Noorka
Muhammad Irfan Ashraf
Saif Ullah
author_sort Mehwish Aslam
collection DOAJ
description Background: Toxic metal accumulation in food crops poses significant public health risks. In particular, chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice crops can lead to human exposure through dietary intake, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and assessment. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the levels of chromium and cadmium in four rice varieties-Super Kernel, Kainat, Basmati, and Irri 6-cultivated in Sargodha, Pakistan, and to assess potential health risks among different age groups in the local population. Main Outcome: The main outcome of the study measures the Cr and Cd concentrations in soil, rice, and serum samples were measured, revealing a predominance of Cd contamination relative to Cr. Super Kernel and Kainat rice varieties exhibited the highest uptake of Cd and Cr, respectively. Contamination factors indicated moderate enrichment of Cd in the study area, with higher Cd contamination compared to Cr. Result: There were five distinct age groups among the humans that lived there. Group I: ages 5 to 15; Group II: ages 16 to 25; Group III: ages 26 to 35; Group IV: ages 36 to 45; and Group V: ages 46 to 55. Chromium concentration was observed as 9.07±0.002 mg/kg in soil samples, 3.89±0.001 mg/kg in rice samples and 0.03± 0.001mg/L in serum samples. Cadmium concentration was observed as 1.02±0.00 mg/kg in soil samples, 0.4±0.00 mg/kg in rice samples and 0.0028±0.00 mg/l in serum samples. Super kernel and Kainat rice showed the highest Cd and Cr uptake in their tissues respectively. Conclusion: Contamination factor results (CF>1) showed higher Cd contamination in the study area as compared to Cr metal. Cd metal also showed moderate level of enrichment in study area. As all THQ values were less than 1 in every age group, so there was no expected carcinogenic hazard to local consumers. Although current risk assessments suggest minimal carcinogenic hazard, elevated Cd levels warrant government intervention to implement strategies aimed at reducing cadmium contamination in rice grains, thereby safeguarding future public health.
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publisher Jinnah University for Women
record_format Article
series RADS Journal of Biological Research & Applied Science
spelling doaj-art-6462e352db04485586787f9a47c1919f2025-08-20T03:36:58ZengJinnah University for WomenRADS Journal of Biological Research & Applied Science2305-87222521-85732025-08-01161Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation SourcesMehwish Aslam0Zafar Iqbal1Kafeel Ahmad2Faiza Zubair3Naila Riaz4Asma Ashfaq5Ijaz Rasool Noorka6Muhammad Irfan Ashraf7Saif Ullah8Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Punjab Pakistan. Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan.Department of Economics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan. Background: Toxic metal accumulation in food crops poses significant public health risks. In particular, chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice crops can lead to human exposure through dietary intake, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and assessment. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the levels of chromium and cadmium in four rice varieties-Super Kernel, Kainat, Basmati, and Irri 6-cultivated in Sargodha, Pakistan, and to assess potential health risks among different age groups in the local population. Main Outcome: The main outcome of the study measures the Cr and Cd concentrations in soil, rice, and serum samples were measured, revealing a predominance of Cd contamination relative to Cr. Super Kernel and Kainat rice varieties exhibited the highest uptake of Cd and Cr, respectively. Contamination factors indicated moderate enrichment of Cd in the study area, with higher Cd contamination compared to Cr. Result: There were five distinct age groups among the humans that lived there. Group I: ages 5 to 15; Group II: ages 16 to 25; Group III: ages 26 to 35; Group IV: ages 36 to 45; and Group V: ages 46 to 55. Chromium concentration was observed as 9.07±0.002 mg/kg in soil samples, 3.89±0.001 mg/kg in rice samples and 0.03± 0.001mg/L in serum samples. Cadmium concentration was observed as 1.02±0.00 mg/kg in soil samples, 0.4±0.00 mg/kg in rice samples and 0.0028±0.00 mg/l in serum samples. Super kernel and Kainat rice showed the highest Cd and Cr uptake in their tissues respectively. Conclusion: Contamination factor results (CF>1) showed higher Cd contamination in the study area as compared to Cr metal. Cd metal also showed moderate level of enrichment in study area. As all THQ values were less than 1 in every age group, so there was no expected carcinogenic hazard to local consumers. Although current risk assessments suggest minimal carcinogenic hazard, elevated Cd levels warrant government intervention to implement strategies aimed at reducing cadmium contamination in rice grains, thereby safeguarding future public health. http://www.jbas.juw.edu.pk/index.php/JBAS/article/view/705CadmiumChromiumContaminationFood chainHuman healthOryza sativa
spellingShingle Mehwish Aslam
Zafar Iqbal
Kafeel Ahmad
Faiza Zubair
Naila Riaz
Asma Ashfaq
Ijaz Rasool Noorka
Muhammad Irfan Ashraf
Saif Ullah
Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources
RADS Journal of Biological Research & Applied Science
Cadmium
Chromium
Contamination
Food chain
Human health
Oryza sativa
title Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources
title_full Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources
title_fullStr Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources
title_full_unstemmed Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources
title_short Chromium and Cadmium Assessment in Selected Rice Varieties Under Various Irrigation Sources
title_sort chromium and cadmium assessment in selected rice varieties under various irrigation sources
topic Cadmium
Chromium
Contamination
Food chain
Human health
Oryza sativa
url http://www.jbas.juw.edu.pk/index.php/JBAS/article/view/705
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