*2.6. Pollution Assessment*

The degree of pollution of the agricultural soil in the studied area was evaluated by using several indices, like the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), degree of contamination (Cdeg), modified degree of contamination (mCdeg), Numerow's pollution index (PI), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk factor (ERi), and the potential ecological risk index (RI). A brief description of these soil contamination indices is given in Table S1.

#### *2.7. Human Health Risk Assessment*

The model for human health risk assessment given by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was used to assess the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects of environmental toxicants like heavy metals on humans. Due to behavioral and physiological differences in this study area, people were divided into two groups, that is, adults and children. Soil contaminants, that is, heavy metals, pose health risks to the human body mainly by three exposure pathways, which include ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. So, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic threat of these exposure pathways was calculated in the present study. The methodology used in the present study for human health risk assessment was based on the guidelines given by the US Environmental Protection Agency [28,45–48].
