The Concentration of Three Heavy Metals, Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead, in Potatoes in Farms the South-East Area of Isfahan Province, Iran, in 2016

The present study aimed to investigate the mean concentrations of three heavy metals, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in potatoes farms in the south-east area of Isfahan Province, Iran.
The soil, potatoes, manure, and water samples along with the standard sample were digested using acidic digestion method, and The Standard Methods book. In addition, the amount of heavy metals was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphic furnace. The relations among the various elemental concentrations of the studied samples were determined using ANOVA test via SPSS software.
Findings: The mean concentrations of lead, arsenic, and cadmium in irrigation water were lower than standards. The mean concentrations of lead, arsenic, and cadmium in soil were 1.7417, 2.6072, and 0.5693 mg/kg, respectively; that were lower than the guideline standards. In addition, in the manure, the mean concentrations of heavy metals were lower than the standards. Lead with the amount of 4.8074 mg/kg had the higher concentration in potatoes, and the mean concentrations of arsenic and cadmium were 1.7869 and 2.6923 mg/kg, respectively, in which lead and cadmium were higher than the standards. The calculated transfer factor (TF) was according to the cadmium > lead > arsenic pattern, and was 4.7291, 2.7601, and 0.6853 mg/kg, respectively.
The concentrations of lead and cadmium in potatoes were higher than permissible limits. This can be attributed to high mobility of lead and cadmium in soil, and their transformation into the plants. As a result, the consumption of potatoes in the studied area may pose increased health risk to the local population in the future.