The study reveals links between disturbed geochemical environment being the result of mining and smelting activities with consumers exposure to toxic and carcinogenic metallic trace elements (MTEs). This study focused on evaluation on vegetable and soil pollution in family allotment gardens (FAGs), considering in the aspects of consumer exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc. Study material consisted of 219 soil samples from FAGs located in one of the most polluted areas in Poland, and 64 samples of edible plants. Contents of analyzed MTEs in topsoil in the studied area were spatially diversified and depended primarily on the location of industrial pollution sources. The average content of cadmium (0.52 mg kg⁻¹fresh weight) and lead (0.57 mg kg⁻¹fresh weight) in vegetables exceeded maximum permissible concentrations according to the European Quality Standards. Human health risk assessment was based on three scenarios of dietary exposure to cadmium, lead and zinc. In every scenario the highest average daily dose for all three elements was estimated for potatoes which are one of the main components of Poles’ diet. Presented study showed that consumption of vegetables cultivated in FAGs located in Silesia Province may pose a significant health risk for their consumers.

The aim of this study was to determine the heavy metal contents of dietary supplements manufactured from medicinal plants and assess the potential daily burden on their consumers. The study consisted of 41 dietary supplements produced from terrestrial plants or microalgae. The analysis of cadmium, lead, and mercury content was performed using analytical methods. The content of Cd and Pb was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The mercury content was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry with the generation of cold mercury vapor (CVAAS). The presence of at least one of the three analyzed heavy metals was found in 79.2% samples of supplements produced from terrestrial plants and in 88.2% supplement samples produced from microalgae. Hazard quotient was used to calculate noncarcinogenic risk for humans by ingestion of dietary supplements containing heavy metals. From among all supplements, 68.3% of samples were contaminated with Cd and Pb (this does not always apply to the same samples) and 29.3% of samples were contaminated with Hg. The health risk assessment of consumers of dietary supplements showed, in an extreme case, that taking this supplement for only one week poses a health risk associated with exposure to Pb. The health risk associated with the intake of dietary supplements primarily depends on the duration of consumption.