This study investigated the accumulation of As, Cd, and Pb in 16 wheat cultivars and the associated health risks for the inhabitants of Jiyuan, China. The results indicated that the concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb decreased in the order of root > leaf > stem > grain. The concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb in wheat grains varied from 0.13 for Pingan8 to 0.34 mg kg⁻¹ for Zhengmai7698, 0.10 for Luomai26 to 0.25 mg kg⁻¹ for Zhengmai7698, and 0.12 for Zhoumai207 to 0.42 mg kg⁻¹ for Zhengmai379, respectively. There were significant differences in the bioaccumulation factors of As, Cd, and Pb among the 16 wheat cultivars. Cd was more readily accumulated to higher levels than As and Pb in wheat. The Target Hazard Quotients (THQs) of Cd and Pb in the grains from 16 wheat cultivars were below 1, while As THQ exceeded 1. The lowest detrimental human health effects via wheat consumption were found in cultivar AY58 among the 16 wheat cultivars, with total THQs (TTHQs) of 1.82 for children and 1.60 for adults, suggesting that children absorb more heavy metals than adults and they are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of these metals.

Wild plant species from three deserted antimony (Sb) mine areas in southern China were collected to measure eight metal(loid)s. Antimony, As (arsenic), Cd (cadmium), Cr (chromium), Cu (copper), Ni (nickel), Pb (lead), and Zn (zinc) concentrations in plants and soil were analyzed. The soils of the mining area was weakly alkaline and contained toxic levels of Sb, As, Pb, Cd, and Zn. Many plant species in the area (40 species and 19 families) have no clear signs of toxicity. The plants were divided into three categories (high, moderate, and low tendency to accumulate metals) based on their (ratio [RT], bioaccumulation factor [BCF], translocation factor [TF]) values. The plants with a high accumulation tendency exhibited the high potential to absorb Sb from contaminated soil; therefore, they can be used for the remediation or phytoremediation of Sb-contaminated soil.