Heavy metal accumulation in aquatic plants and health risk assessment from Chan Thnal reservoir, Kompong Speu, Cambodia

Heavy metal contamination of natural water resources is the main environmental concern in Cambodia. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of heavy metals in aquatic plants and health risk assessment in aquatic plants of the Chan Thnal reservoir by using ICP-OES for analysis. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb in the Water lily (WLL) were 0.034-0.173, 2.786-15.920, 26.921-32.392, and 0.698-1.657 mg/Kg, respectively. For Lotus (LT) concentrations were 0.078-0.175, 11.148-14.702, 20.185-40.227, and 0.240-1.430 mg/kg for Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb, respectively. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and health risk index (HRI) values of four heavy metals in this study were relatively high. Especially, the HRI values for Cu of WLL and LT during the wet season, and the HRI values for Pb of LT in both seasons were greater than 1. By considering EDI and HRI, both aquatic plants are not safe for daily food intake (HRI >10 times RfD). The results of our study revealed potential long-term health effects of villagers consuming WLL and LT from the Chan Thnal reservoir.