Heavy metals contamination and health risk associated with the consumption of Kiwi fruit, Amlash County, north of Iran

This study assesses the risk of heavy metals in Kiwi fruit in Amlash County orchards. Thirty samples were collected from Kiwi orchards throughout the county. The concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) were measured using a coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-OES), utilizing a model 710ES device manufactured by Agilent USA. Non-cancer and cancer risk assessments were conducted for children and adults via the ingestion pathway. The results indicate that the highest concentration was observed for Fe (305.56 mg/kg), followed by Ni (24.691 mg/kg). The lowest concentrations were recorded for Cd (0.13 mg/kg), As (0.413 mg/kg), and Pb (0.8241 mg/kg). For children, the HQ values of Cu, Fe, Ni, and Pb were consistently over 1 with 95% certainty, whereas for Cd, it was near to 1 (0.9285). In adults, HQ of Cu, Fe, Ni, Cd, and Pb were consistently above 1, whereas only As, and Zn were below 1. The HI values of HMs (except for Cu and Fe) for adults and children were found to be 11.6324 and 25.2426, respectively. The cancer risks are above the acceptable limit for Zn, Fe, Ni, and As, respectively. Based on these findings, monitoring and intervention measures are necessary to mitigate soil contamination by HMs.