Metals Contents in Honey, Beeswax and Bees and Human Health Risk Assessment Due to Consumption of Honey: A Case Study from Selected Districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Beeswax, honey, and live in-hive worker bees were collected in this study from eight districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The concentration of seven essential elements (copper, calcium, zinc, iron, nickel, chromium and manganese) and two non-essentials (lead and cadmium) were determined. All of the samples were found to have a random distribution of metal concentrations. The plentiful metals with high concentrations in the gathered samples were discovered to be calcium, iron, and zinc. The health concerns related with metal intake in honey were assessed using the Average Daily Dose (ADD), Hazard Quotients (HQs) and Hazard Index (HI) models. Children were found to have higher estimated health risk values for the components assessed in all samples than adults. All of the computed ADD values were lower than the matching reference (RfD) values. The matching HI values of metals in various honeys were found to be less than one, implying that honey consumption in the studied area has no non carcinogenic risk. Cancer risks (CR) was also calculated for intake of Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd in honey in the selected districts. The CR values for Cr and Cd exceeded 1E-4 in various districts such as Karak, Kohat, Nowshera, Bajur, Dir Upper, and Mohmand Agency, signifying that there was a small danger involved. In the case of Karak, the Ni CR value was greater than the allowed limits. As a result, it is important to keep an eye on the concentration of these metals in honey because anthropogenic input could raise their concentration in the future, posing a health danger.

Effect of mercury and arsenic from industrial effluents on the drinking water and comparison of the water quality of polluted and non-polluted areas: a case study of Peshawar and Lower Dir.

The purpose of the present study was to find out the sources of mercury and arsenic pollution of water in the industrial area of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Samples of effluents, mud, and water were collected from the target area (industrial area of Peshawar), the area of water supply source, and from the less polluted area, the Lower Dir district, as the control. Hg was determined by the cold vapor generation technique, while arsenic was determined using the electrothermal atomic absorption technique. Data of the water from the industrial area were compared with that of the source area, control area, as well as with the WHO and some international drinking water quality standards. The results show that some parameters, i.e., TDS, DO, pH, and hardness, were more than the permissible limits. Textile and glass industries were found to be the major sources of Hg and As pollution. Downstream dilution of these contaminants was also observed.

Bioaccumulation of metals in human blood in industrially contaminated area.

Heavy metals were analyzed in different foods crops, milk, meat and blood samples collected from different age group subjects such as children (1-12 years), adolescent (12-18 years), adults (18-45 years) and old age (above 45 and 55 years for males and females, respectively) from polluted and relatively less polluted areas. The results revealed that the consumption of contaminated food crops, meat and milk have significantly increased the concentrations of selected metals in the human blood. Cu, Zn and Mn concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the blood samples collected from the polluted area as compared to control area. Old people had accumulated high concentrations of metals as compared to the younger ones within the same area. Males accumulated higher concentrations of metals as compared to females.

A comparative study of human health risks via consumption of food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil (Peshawar) and relatively clean water irrigated soil (lower Dir).

Food crops irrigated with wastewater are mostly contaminated with heavy metals and considered as a main pathway for human exposure. In this study, soil and food crops samples were collected from wastewater irrigated soils, background and relatively less polluted areas. Results of the sequential extraction and total metals concentrations in soils indicated that wastewater irrigation has significantly increased (p > or = 0.001) the bioavailable and total metal contents in wastewater irrigated soil as compared to background and control soils. Heavy metal concentrations in the food crops grown on wastewater irrigated soil were higher than those grown on background and control soils but were found within WHO/FAO permissible limits except for Zn. Health risk index values were less than 1 for both control and wastewater irrigated soils (except Mn). However, the food crops such as Brassica rapa, Spinacia oleracae L., Lycopersicum esculantum, Mentha viridis, Coriandum sativum and Lactuca sativa grown on wastewater irrigated soil can pose health risks because of the high concentration of Mn.

Heavy metals in brick kiln located area using atomic absorption spectrophotometer: a case study from the city of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Environmental pollution is one of the burning issues of the world. In developed countries, there are lot of awareness about the environment and the impact of various industries on their life and surroundings. A little has been done in this direction in developing countries. In Pakistan, a big problem is the rapid conglomeration of the brick kilns in the outskirts of nearly all the urban centers to cope with the rapid construction work in big cities. A huge amount of low-grade coal or rubber tires is used as fuel in a very non-scientific manner. The purpose of the present study was to look into the impact of the brick kilns on the different aspects of environmental pollution caused by these kilns. Concentration of metals Cu, Co, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Mn were measured on 36 soil samples collected from the area and the same number of plant samples in order to establish the distribution of heavy metals in the area and to determine the effect of this distribution on the surrounding atmosphere and the possible effects on human life.

Multivariate statistical analysis of heavy metals pollution in industrial area and its comparison with relatively less polluted area: a case study from the City of Peshawar and district Dir Lower.

Multivariate and univariate statistical techniques i.e., cluster analysis PCA, regression and correlation analysis, one way ANOVA, were applied to the metal data of effluents soil and ground water to point out the contribution of different industries towards the metals pollution, their source identification and distribution. The samples were collected from different industries and different downstream points of the main effluents stream and from the relatively less polluted area considered as control area. The samples were analyzed for metal concentration levels by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The metal concentration data in the three media of the polluted area were compared with background data and control data as well as with the WHO safe limits. The results showed that soil has high metals concentration compared to effluents and water. The data also showed elevated levels of Mn and Pb in water that are 8.268 and 2.971 mg/L, respectively. Principal component analysis along with regression analysis showed that the elevated levels of metals in the effluents contaminate adjacent soil and ultimately the ground water. The other elements Co, Cd, Ni and Cu were also found to have correlation in the three media.