Human health risk assessment of lead in nectarines

Abstract

The aim of the paper was to determine the level of soil contamination with lead and perform risk assessment by calculating the Hazard Quotient Index (HQI). The research was carried out during 2015 and 2016 at three locations in Herzegovina (Mostar, Capljina, and Stolac), where nectarine cultivars ('Big Top' and 'Caldesi 2000') were cultivated. At the Mostar and Capljina locations, the total content of lead in the soil exceeded MPC values in both years of research. Estimated daily intake (EDI) and estimated weekly intake (EWI) values of lead in the studied nectarine varieties showed no acute or chronic risk for human health.