Study on Human Health Risks Associated with Consuming Vegetables Grown in Industrially Polluted Soil in Sasar Area, NW Romania, in the Context of Sustainable Development

This study analyzed the health risks associated with the consumption of certain vegetables (carrot, onion, tomato, and pepper) grown in soils potentially polluted with metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and metalloids (As) from 15 vegetable gardens in the Sasar locality. The research includes measurement of soil and plant metal concentrations, assessment of global pollution of soils with metals using Nemerow pollution index ( PI N ), calculation of the metal transfer factor ( TF ) from soil to vegetable, daily intake of metal dose ( DIM ) and health risk index ( HRI ) for both children and adults. The results (mean of 3 replicas ± standard deviation) show that the soil is moderately polluted with lead (28.39 ± 8.623 mg kg −1 ), nickel (23.17 ± 4.043 mg kg −1 ), and zinc (123.20 ± 26.918 mg kg −1 ), strongly polluted with copper (71.68 ± 22.463 mg kg −1 ), and cadmium (2.63 ± 0.881 mg kg −1 ). Copper exhibited the highest transfer factors (>0.08), followed by cadmium (~0.06), while zinc and nickel showed moderate values (0.02–0.03). Arsenic and manganese had relatively stable and lower levels, whereas lead displayed the lowest transfer rates (<0.01) across all vegetables. Although the calculated health risk index ( HRI < 1) remains below the critical threshold, the findings emphasize the importance of moderate consumption and continuous monitoring of crops in polluted areas. The results can contribute to the integration of sustainable development principles into community policy, protecting the environment and ensuring the sustainable health of consumers.