Heavy metal accumulation in frogs surrounding an e-waste dump site and human health risk assessment

Abstract

This study was performed heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in water, soil and frogs around an electronic-waste dump site. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of heavy metals in three frog species and potential human health risks were assessed. Heavy metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The Cd and Pb concentrations in water samples and As and Pb concentrations in soil samples from within the e-waste dump site exceeded the standards. The heavy metal concentrations in the muscles of three frog species were as follows: Cr > Pb > As > Cd, and there were no significant differences among frog species except in the case of Pb (p < 0.05). Only the Cr concentrations exceeded the food quality standards. The relative order of the BAFs for heavy metals in frogs as a result of uptake from the water and soil was Cr > As > Pb > Cd and Cr > As > Cd > Pb, respectively, which indicated that the uptake from water was greater than that from the soil. The assessment of the health risk index and carcinogenic risk (CR) indicated potential human health effects from As, Cr, and Pb via the consumption of frogs.

Keywords:

• Electronic waste
• heavy metal
• frog
• bioaccumulation
• health risk

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This study was supported by the Graduate School Khon Kaen University and the Research Group on Toxic Substances in Livestock and Aquatic Animals, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.