The health risk caused by heavy metal accumulation in vegetables is of great concern. In this study, a database of heavy metal content in a vegetable-soil system in China was constructed through literature review and field sample collection. A systematic analysis of seven heavy metal contents in edible parts of vegetables and their bioaccumulation capacity among different vegetables was also performed. Additionally, the non-carcinogenic health risks of four types vegetables were assessed by using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). The mean values of Cd, As, Pb, Cr, Hg, Cu, and Zn in the edible parts of the vegetables were 0.093, 0.024, 0.137, 0.118, 0.007, 0.622, and 3.272 mg·kg-1, and the exceedance rates of the five toxic elements were:Pb (18.5%)>Cd (12.9%)>Hg (11.5%)>Cr (4.03%)>As (0.21%). Leafy vegetables showed high Cd enrichment, and root vegetables showed high Pb enrichment, with mean bioconcentration factors of 0.264 and 0.262, respectively. Generally, legumes vegetables and solanaceous vegetables showed lower bioaccumulation for heavy metals. The health risk results indicated that the non-carcinogenic risk for single elements of vegetable intake was within the acceptable range, with the health risk for children being higher than that for adults. The mean non-carcinogenic risk for single elements were:Pb>Hg>Cd>As>Cr. The multi-element combined non-carcinogenic risks of four types vegetables were:leafy vegetables>root vegetables>legume vegetables>solanaceous vegetables. Planting lower-heavy metal bioaccumulation vegetables in heavy metal-contaminated farmland is an effective method to minimize the health risk.
Keywords: Monte Carlo simulation (MCS); bioconcentration factor; health risk; heavy metal; vegetables.