HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF SOME POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS (PTES) IN RICE GROWN IN DEEKERNES SECTOR, DAKAHLEYA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

Soil pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) resulting from rapid industrial development has caused major concerns. Selected PTEs such as (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Fe) and their accumulation in rice grown in the Deekernes sector irrigation area in mediates Dakahleya, Egypt were analyzed to evaluate the potential health risk to the local population. In this paper, five rice samples were collected from different areas namely. Daily intake rate and Target hazard quotient were used for the potential health risk assessment of local population through the intake of rice grown in the sewage-irrigated site. The results showed that continuous application of wastewater has led to accumulation of heavy metals in the soil, and Cd, Zn, Cu were the main pollutants. The risk assessment of PTEs through rice consumption suggests that the concentrations of Cd, Zn, Ni and Cu in some rice samples exceed their reference oral dose for adults and children. In general, hazard index values for adults and children were greater than 1 in S1, S3, S4, and S5. Potential health risks from exposure to heavy metals in self-planted rice need more attention.