Health Risk and Quality Assessment of Vegetables Cultivated on Soils from a Heavily Polluted Old Mining Area

Three garden vegetables—radish, carrot and lettuce—were cultivated in a pot experiment using two soils from the Příbram area polluted mainly by cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) chromium (Cr). The of district, Czech Republic, are heavily as result atmospheric deposition toxic elements originating historic lead–silver mining smelting activities. results showed that lettuce absorbed highest amounts (Cd 28 30, Cr 12 13, Zn 92 205 mg·kg−1 DW), except Pb, which was higher radish (30 49 DW). Changes macronutrient contents edible parts were not found, for sulfur. A total free amino acids (fAAs) accumulation shown all vegetables more contaminated soil, with fAA content being radish. group essential fAAs reached 7–24% vegetables. risk to human health characterized target hazard quotient index (HI). cumulative effect consumption HI > 1 possible non-carcinogenic effects carrot. decreased order Cd Pb Zn. carcinogenic (0.00054, 0.00026, 0.00003). These values confirmed adult population studied is at high if this consumed daily.