Assessment of risk of non-cancer disease in contaminated plant (Ocimum basilicum L.) and soil

Abstract

This study tried to conduct an investigation into the rate of contamination by heavy metals (HMs) in both the soil used in the plantation of the basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) as well as the plant itself. The proposed methodology works by assessing the concentrations of 4 heavy metals, inclusive of Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cd. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) were deployed for assessing the rate of contamination by HMs within the plant. The plant samples were also analyzed at different stages of growth (DSG) through inspection of their reaction to electromagnetic waves (EW). The results indicated that the THQ was substantially high for Pb and Zn, indicative of the high contamination of the study samples by the metals thereof. The hazard index (HI) for non-carcinogenic hazards was also measured for the entire HMs at 46.64, denoting a high level of contamination in the basil. BCF results also indicated Cd as the most absorbed contaminant (BCF = 1.88) by the target plant. The optimal vegetation index for assessment of HM contamination in the target plant, on the report of the findings, was identified as PD312. Therefore, utilizing EW, the reaction of contaminated plants in DSG is forecastable.

Keywords: BCF; Basil (O. basilicum); Heavy metal; Remote sensing; THQ; Vegetation index.