Metallic Health Risk through Consumption of Different Rice Varieties Cultivated in Industrial Wastewater Irrigated Farmers’ Fields of Bhaluka Area, Bangladesh

A study was conducted to assess metallic health risk for population through consumption of rice grown in industrial wastewater irrigated sites of Bhaluka area, Mymensingh. Total 9 rice samples of 3 different varieties (BR-28, BR-29 and Kalozira) were collected directly from the farmers’ fields of the area and analysed for this study. The mean concentration of Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, Mn and Fe in rice grains, straw and husk of different rice varieties were 54.46, 12.56, 5.45, 8.01, 1.37, 14.82 and 94.1 µg g-1; 74.70, 8.38, 5.11, 6.29, 1.17, 594 and 7951 µg g-1, and 112.8, 0.60, 0.68, 3.98, 1.29, 214 and 6568 µg g-1, respectively. Present study results revealed that Cr, Cu and Ni accumulation pattern in rice followed the sequence as grain> straw> husk; Fe and Mn exhibited the order as straw> husk> grain while Zn and Cd showed the sequence as husk> straw> grain and grain> husk> straw, respectively. As regards to varieties, Cr, Cu, Ni and Cd accumulation pattern followed the sequence as Kalozira> BR-29> BR-28, while Zn, Mn and Fe exhibited the order as BR-28> BR-29> Kalozira, BR-29> BR-28> Kalozira and Kalozira> BR-28> BR-29, respectively. As regards to fodder, only Cd contents in straw and husk seem to be harmful for animal health. In context of human health, the calculated target hazard quotient (THQ) values for Cr and Cd of all varieties ranged from 16.12-35.44 and 5.04-11.67, respectively for both male and female, and the same values for Mn surpassed 5.0 for female in 6 sites and for male in 4 sites indicate that the exposed populations are unsafe. Finally, the study concluded that peoples should avoid consumption of rice grown in industrial wastewater irrigated agricultural fields of Bhaluka area until proper remediation strategies along with fresh water irrigation are introduced.