Health risk from heavy metals via consumption of food crops in the vicinity of district Shangla

Heavy metals such as cadmium,lead,nickel,chromium,cobalt,copper,zinc and iron were quantified in food crops and soil samples using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. questionnaire survey was conducted to estimate average body weight and daily intake of food crops. daily intake of metals (dim) and health risk assessment were conducted for heavy metals via ingestion path way from food crops. cobalt and cadmium daily intake were found to be higher than the suggested limits. health risk indices (hri) were found < 1 for all metals indicating no health risks except cadmium and cobalt. hri of cobalt and cadmium were > 1 in 80 % and 96 % of the population,respectively. this study conveys a strong message to the ministry of health to protect the general population from the harmful effects of cadmium and cobalt.