*Corresponding Author: Yuvraj R Shinde, ICAR – National Research Centre on Pomegranate, Solapur, India.

Received: March 25, 2026; Published: May 05, 202

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in fruit crops near agro-industrial areas poses serious food safety concerns. This study assessed the spatial distribution, sources, and health risks of Cr, Cd, Pb, and Ni in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) grown around five sugar industries in Solapur, India. A total of 150 fruit samples were collected across three distance zones (0–1.5, 1.5–3.0, and 3.0–4.5 km) from each industry. It is evident from the results, Cd and Pb were the dominant contaminants, frequently exceeding WHO/FAO limits, with maximum concentrations observed near industrial sites (Cd: 0.94 mg kg⁻¹; Pb: 2.45 mg kg⁻¹ in BSSK). A significant decline with distance (p < 0.05; R² up to 0.995) confirmed their anthropogenic origin. In contrast, Cr and Ni exhibited relatively uniform distribution, indicating geogenic sources. Health risk assessment indicated Cd and Pb are major contributors to non-carcinogenic risk, with Hazard Index (HI) values exceeding safe limits (>1), reaching up to 3.00. Pollution Load Index (PLI > 1) further indicated localized contamination hotspots. Overall, the study highlights the impact of sugar industries on heavy metal accumulation and emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and sustainable management to ensure food safety.

Keywords: Health Risk; Spatial Assessment; Heavy Metal; Pomegranate; Sugar Industry

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Citation

Citation: Yuvraj R Shinde., et al. “Evaluating Health Risks of Heavy Metals in Pomegranate from Industrial Clusters of Solapur Using Spatial Distribution Analysis in a Semi-Arid Region". Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 10.5 (2026): 03-11.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Yuvraj R Shinde., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.