Assessment of Heavy Metal Content and Consumption Risks At Selected Paddy Field in Malaysia: A Review

Abstract

As the Malaysian population grows, there is a high demand for rice, the main staple food in this region. This has caused the overuse of agrochemicals that contain heavy metals and the utilization of contaminated groundwater to increase paddy yield, posing a risk to humans. This study reviewed the accumulated heavy metals in paddy fields of Malaysia's Selangor, Kedah and Sabah states and further calculated the consumption risks of rice grains from the selected areas. The study revealed that paddy soil in Ranau Valley (Sabah), Kota Marudu (Sabah) and Tanjung Karang (Selangor) showed presences of Cu and Cd in high concentration, respectively, creating higher potential to be uptake by paddy roots. These findings also revealed that Ranau Valley (Sabah) paddy grains contained high Cu and Cd concentrations, while Sabak Bernam (Selangor) contained high Pb concentrations. Further, a higher Cd concentration was reported from the Ranau Valley (Sabah), while the higher Pb concentrations were reported from the samples collected from Sabak Bernam (Selangor), Tanjung Karang (Selangor) and Kubang Pasu (Kedah). Based on the health risk indices calculation in this study, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks in all study areas except in Kubang Pasu (Kedah) and Langkawi (Kedah) are likely to occur due to Cu mining activities, ultrabasic soil contamination, utilization of contaminated groundwater and rock phosphate fertilizer and vehicular emission. Regular assessment of heavy metal content and consumption risks of paddy is essential to ensure the paddy field is free from contamination and will help protect the ecosystem and human health.