Heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment of rice grain in Bengbu city

The concentrations of heavy metals in rice grain collected from Bengbu were measured. The method of single factor pollution index, comprehensive pollution index and health risk index were used to assess pollution levels and health risk of heavy metals in rice grain. The results showed that the average of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, As and Hg element's concentrations in rice grain were 0.2073, 4.5061, 22.7308, 0.2104, 0.3057, 0.0802 and 0.0096mg·kg-1, respectively. The single factor pollution index assessment showed that Cd and Pb were above the national standards and could be categorized as light pollution. However, other elements could be regarded as clean levels. The omprehensive pollution index of heavy metals in rice grain ranged from 0.23 to 1.84, with the average of 1.18, which was considered to be in the level of light pollution. The health risk index of heavy metals in rice grain collected from Bengbu for children was higher than that for adults. Moreover, Cd had an especially high risk for children and adults, and As, Cu, Zn, Cr had an especially high risk for children.