Evaluation of the Effects of Wastewater Irrigation on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Vegetables and Human Health in the Cauliflower Example : Heavy Metal Accumulation in Cauliflower.

The goals of the present research were to determine the heavy metal contents in the water-soil-cauliflower samples in industrial wastewater irrigated areas and to assess the health risks of these metals to the people. Metal analyses were carried out using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with a graphite furnace. The metal readings in the cauliflower specimens ranged from 1.153 to 1.389, 0.037 to 0.095, 0.61 to 0.892, 0.625 to 0.921, 1.165 to 2.399, 0.561 to 0.652, 0.565 to 0.585, 0.159 to 0.218 and 1.268 to 1.816 mg/kg for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn, respectively. Statistics revealed that, with the exception of Pb and Co (p > 0.05), there was no statistically significant variation in the metal concentrations in the cauliflower samples according to the irrigation type. Pb, Ni, and Cr had HRI values below 1.0 and did not seem to be a hazard to human health, in contrast to Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn, which glanced to constitute a health risk. Regular monitoring of vegetables irrigated with wastewater is strongly advised to reduce health hazards to people.

Does Industrial Wastewater Irrigation Cause Potentially Toxic Metal Contamination and Risk to Human Health? Sugar Industry Wastewater and Radish Examples.

The goal of this study was to appraise potentially toxic metal contents in the soil-radish system in industrial wastewater irrigated areas. The analysis of metals in water, soil and radish samples were performed with spectrophotometric method. The potentially toxic metal values in the wastewater irrigated radish samples were ranged from 1.25 to 1.41, 0.02 to 0.10, 0.77 to 0.81, 0.72 to 0.80, 0.92 to 1.19, 0.69 to 0.78, 0.08 to 0.11, 1.64 to 1.67 and 0.49 to 0.63 mg/kg for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn, respectively. The potentially toxic metal values in the soil and radish samples irrigated with wastewater were lower than the maximum allowable limits, except for Cd. The results of the Health Risk Index evaluation conducted in this study also showed that the accumulations of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Cr, and Zn, especially Cd, pose a health risk in terms of consumption.

Bubalus bubalis Blood as Biological Tool to Track Impacts from Cobalt: Bioaccumulation and Health Risks Perspectives from a Water-Soil-Forage-Livestock Ecosystem.

Cobalt (Co) bioaccumulation, contamination, and toxicity in the soil environment, plant growth, and cattles' health are becoming a severe matter that can cause unembellished consequences in environmental safety and human health. The present research was conducted for the assurance of cobalt (Co) amassing in three forage plant species (Zea mays, Sorghum bicolor, Trifolium alaxandrium), from four ecological sites, and sewage water and in buffaloes blood was investigated. The analysis of variance showed significant differences for Co concentration in the soil and sewage water collected from all ecological sites. Meanwhile, summer and winter seasons and forage ecotypes significantly influenced the quantity of Co. The forage pastures also vary significantly in the concentration of Co in the above-ground parts. The highest Co level was present in Trifolium alaxandrium at ecological site-5. Cobalt taken from wastewater had a higher concentration in Trifolium alaxandrium during the winter. The samples which are collected from site-V and site-IV have the maximum concentration of Co because these areas receive highly contaminated water for irrigation. Cobalt tends to be bioaccumulated in the food chain and can cause serious problems in humans and animals. Bioaccumulation of cobalt in collected samples could be accredited to anthropogenic activities. Pollution load index values for all samples fell in the range below 1. The health risk index indicated the probability of health damage caused by the ingestion of contaminated fodder. An increase of Co concentration in soil, fodder, and blood owing to wastewater irrigation to crops was indicated as an outcome of this investigation. The results indicate that the Co toxicity in forage crops is attributed to Co bioaccumulation, transfer, and pollution load in the soil-water-cattle triangle. Efforts should be extended to avoid contamination of the food chain via Co-rich sewage water. Other nonconventional water resources should be used for forage irrigation.

Potentially Toxic Metal Accumulation in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Irrigated with Industrial Wastewater and Health Risk Assessment from Consumption.

This study aimed to determine the potentially toxic metal contents in soil and spinach samples in areas irrigated with industrial wastewater and to evaluate the potentially toxic metal accumulation in spinach samples according to pollution indices. Water, soil and spinach samples were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer AAS-300). In this study, it was determined that the potentially toxic metal values ​​in the spinach samples irrigated with groundwater and sugar industry wastewater varied between 1.59 and 1.84, 0.22-0.68, 0.56-1.14, 1.41-1.56, 1.62-3.23, 0.57-1.02, 0.86-1.33, 0.20-0.32 and 0.35-2.10 mg/kg for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn, respectively. It was concluded that the difference between the metal values ​​in the spinach samples according to the irrigation sources was statistically significant, except for Cu and Pb (p > 0.05). According to the results of this study, there is no health risk for Pb, Co and Cr with HRI values ​​below 1.0, while there is a risk for Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn and Zn. The much higher HRI values ​​of Cd than 1 (196.8 and 169.6) suggested that this metal is likely to cause significant health problems in the region.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metal chromium in a contaminated pastureland area in the Central Punjab, Pakistan: soils vs plants vs ruminants.

Grazing animals act as a bioindicator to study the heavy metal status in the pasture lands because excessive amount of toxic metals in the animal diet either disturb their normal activity or deposit the contaminants into their tissues. The aim of this study was to appraise the chromium status in soil and pasture crops with respect to the nutritional requirement of grazing animals. Three different sites were selected to collect soil, forages, and animal samples from District Jhang. All the samples were processed through atomic absorption spectrophotometer to analyze the chromium concentration in them. Chromium concentration was varied as 0.703-4.20 mg/kg in soil, 0.45-2.85 mg/kg in forages, and 0.588-2.37 mg/kg in all collected animal samples. Both the soil and forage samples displayed the maximum chromium concentration in the Capparis decidua, whereas animal samples revealed maximum concentration in animal blood. Results of pollution load index (0.078 to 0.463 mg/kg) exhibited that all the sample values are less than unity while enrichment factor (1.57-8.25mg/kg) showed that significant level of chromium is enriched in these sites. The maximum value of daily intake (0.0007-0.0055mg/kg/day) and health risk index (0.0004-0.00370055mg/kg/day) was observed in the buffalo that feed on the Capparis decidua. Bio-concentration factor (0.398-2.09mg/kg) value was the maximum in the Medicago sativa. It is concluded that all the animal samples showed chromium concentration beyond their standards. Thus, proper measures should be taken to reduce the metal contamination in these areas that ultimately lessen the availability of toxic metals to grazing animals.

Evaluation of potential ecological risk and prediction of zinc accumulation and its transfer in soil plants and ruminants: public health implications.

Present work evaluated the zinc (Zn) concentration in soil, forage, blood plasma, hair, and feces samples of cows, buffaloes, and sheep taken from Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. The concentration of Zn was found in the ranged of 21.82-35.09mg/kg, 32.59-42.17mg/kg, 0.927-2.48mg/l, 1.03-2.84mg/kg, and 0.923-1.98mg/kg in soil, forage, blood plasma, hair, and feces samples, respectively. The Zn concentration in soil, forage, blood, hair, and feces was safer compared to standard limits. Statistical analysis described that values for BCF, PLI, EF, DIM, and HRI ranged 1.03-1.57mg/kg, 0.486-0.782mg/kg, 0.457-0.696mg/kg, 0.048-0.08mg/kg, and 0.160-0.272mg/kg, respectively. It can be concluded from the present work that Zn concentration was safe in soil, forages, and animal samples. BCF was noticed as greater than 1 while PLI, EF, DIM, and HRI were found less than 1, so regular heavy metal analysis was required to appraise the contamination level in environment.

Evaluation of pasture allowance of manganese for ruminants.

The aim of this study was to access the Mn contamination in soil, forages, and animals. Heavy metal pollution is a matter of prime significance in natural environment. Through food chain, toxicity of heavy metals and their bioaccumulation potential are transferred into humans. Higher concentrations of metallic compounds are toxic to living organisms but these are essential to maintain body metabolism. Intake of food crops polluted with heavy metals is chief food chain channel for human exposure. Animals are exposed to heavy metal stress by the intake of richly contaminated food crops; those are chief part of food chain. Samples of soil, plant, animal blood, hair, and feces were collected to find contamination through wet digestion process in lab and metal analysis. Different forages were collected to study Mn content that was our major concern in this study. The present findings also emphasized on the assessment of bio-concentration factor (BCF). Other significant indices of mobility and pollution of metal were also calculated, i.e. pollution load index (PLI), daily intake of metal (DIM), health risk index (HRI), and enrichment factor (EF). The experimentation result showed different concentrations of metal in different seasons. The Mn concentration in forages was 20.01-28.29 mg/kg and in soil was 5.27-8.90 mg/kg. Soil samples showed higher level of (PLI) Pollution load index. Bio-concentration of MN was 2.59-4.21 mg/kg. It can be concluded that regular monitoring of the metal is essential to evaluate the contamination status. Mn contents were in the safe limits in soil and plants; however, its toxic level was observed in animals.

Evaluation of transfer of lead in soil plant animal system: assessment of consequences of its toxicity.

The instant endeavor was undertaken for determination of lead (Pb) in water, soil, forage, and cow's blood domesticated in contaminated area of heavy automobiles' exhaust in Sahiwal town of District Sargodha, Pakistan. Water samples showed that the concentration of Pb ranged from 1.14 to 0.44 mg kg-1 at all sites. It was maximum at site 5 and minimum at site 2. Soil samples showed the concentration of Pb at all sites ranged from 1.58 to 0.279 mg kg-1. It was maximum in soil where Avena sativa was grown at site 5 and was found minimum in soil where Zea mays was grown at site 2. While among samples of forage, the concentration of Pb ranges from 0.048 to 2.002 mg kg-1. The highest Pb amount was found in Brassica campestris at site 1 and the minimum was recorded in Trifolium alexandrinum at site 2. Finally, the blood samples of cow depicted that concentration of Pb ranged from 4.468 to 0.217 mg kg-1. It was the maximum at site 1 and the minimum at site 3. It is recommended that such study should be conducted in other districts for public awareness.

Monitoring of copper accumulation in water, soil, forage, and cows impacted by heavy automobiles in Sargodha, Pakistan.

The instant endeavor was undertaken to monitor copper (Cu) contents in water, soil, forage, and cow's blood impacted by heavy automobiles in Sahiwal town of district Sargodha, Pakistan. The samples were collected in triplicates with a total of 120 soil and water samples with corresponding forage samples. For the analysis of metal concentration in cows, 60 blood samples were collected from the cows feeding on these forages on selected sites. Metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that water samples contained mean values of Cu concentration ranged from 1.01 to 0.444 mg/kg at all sites. It was maximum at site 3 and minimum at site 6. The soil samples of all the forage fields showed Cu mean values concentration ranged from 1.94 to 0.286 mg/kg at all sites. It was maximum in Trifolium alexandrinum grown field at site 2, and minimum in Avena sativa at site 2. All the forage samples showed the mean value of Cu concentration ranged from 0.151 to 1.86 mg/kg at all sites. The concentration of Cu was maximum in Zea mays grown at site 5 and minimum in Trifolium alexandrinum at site 4. The cow blood samples showed the mean concentration of Cu ranged from 1.368 to 0.53 mg/kg at all sites. It was maximum at site 2 and minimum at site 6. Owing to the results of pollution index and transfer factors, metal content was found to be in permissible range in forages as well as animal samples.

Evaluation of toxicity potential of cobalt in wheat irrigated with wastewater: health risk implications for public.

The use of wastewater in irrigation weakens the beneficial properties of the soil and leads to a threat to food safety standards. The present research was designed to explore the cobalt toxicity associated with the ingestion of wastewater irrigated wheat. Wheat plants of five different varieties were collected from 7 different sites of Punjab, Pakistan, which were irrigated with three different sources of water. The sampling was done in two cropping years. The cobalt values in water, soil and wheat samples (root, shoot, grain) ranged from 0.46 to 1.24 mg/l, 0.15 to 1.20, 0.29 to 1.30, 0.08 to 0.76 and 0.12 to 0.57 mg/kg, respectively. All the water samples showed high cobalt concentration than the maximum permissible value. However, all the soil and wheat plant samples were found within the maximum allowable range. The high cobalt concentration in irrigating water showed that the continuous usage of such type of water may lead to cobalt toxicity in living organisms with the passage of time and may results in severe health risks.

Bioaccumulation of cadmium in different genotypes of wheat crops irrigated with different sources of water in agricultural regions.

The study was carried out to evaluate the health risks associated with accumulation of cadmium in the different genotypes of wheat, grown in agricultural regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Five genotypes irrigated with three varied water sources were selected randomly from each region. Among all sources of water, types of soil, and grain samples, the cadmium (Cd) quantities were found (2.24-2.82 mg/L, 1.75-4.16 mg/kg, 0.86-1.90, respectively), exceeding the maximum permissible limits (0.01 mg/L, 1.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, respectively) described by FAO/WHO. The pollution load index (PLI) exhibited by all of the samples was higher than 1.00, the permissible limit; however, other factors including bioaccumulation, translocation, bio-concentration, daily intake, and enrichment values of Cd were less than 1.00. Moreover, the health risk index for cadmium in all types of wheat grain samples was less than 1.00. The study concluded that the continuous use of wastewater resources may lead to the accumulation of cadmium in the vital body organs that may cause severe health hazards.

Effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on the growth, heavy metal/metalloid accumulation, and human health risk of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the effect of the chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizers such as cow manure and poultry manure applications on the heavy metal/metalloid accumulation in the wheat samples. A field experiment was conducted using a complete randomized block design with three replicates per treatment to observe the impact of organic and chemical fertilizers on the heavy metal/metalloid accumulation in a wheat variety (Lasani-08). Heavy metal/metalloid concentrations in the root, shoot, and grains of wheat samples were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). In addition, the growth parameters of wheat samples were assigned. Results indicated that morphological parameters showed maximum growth under chemical fertilizer treatment. The heavy metal/metalloid concentrations in the wheat grains ranged from 12.95 to 25.83, 1.03 to 1.11, 16.83 to 20.26, 0.92 to 0.98, 0.504 to 1.997, 2.24 to 5.98, and 0.493 to 1.154 mg/kg for Zn, Co, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Cr, respectively. All heavy metal/metalloid values in the present study were within the safe limits reported by the FAO/WHO except for Pb. However, the health risk index determined for all metals are higher in the wheat grown with chemical fertilizer applications, but it has been shown that the consumption of wheat grown with organic and chemical applications is not hazardous for health.

Appraisal of chromium in chicken reared on maize irrigated with sewage water.

In the present study, the outcome of sewage, canal, and ground water on the chromium (Cr) concentration in corn and ultimately in chicken body parts was reported. To evaluate Cr level, atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer AA 6300, Shimadzu Japan) was used. The highest level of Cr in grains (0.50 ± 0.05 mg/kg), shoots (0.90 ± 0.01 mg/kg), and roots (1.01 ± 0.02 mg/kg) were noticed in the Sadaf variety watered with canal water. The least concentration of Cr was recorded in grains (0.07 ± 0.01 mg/kg), shoots (0.59 ± 0.01 mg/kg), and roots (0.71 ± 0.01 mg/kg) of Pearl variety irrigated with ground water. The maximum concentration of chromium in the blood (1.68 ± 0.02 mg/kg) and bones (1.26 ± 0.24 mg/kg) was observed in chicks fed on Millet Research Institute (MMRI) grains reared with the sewage water. The lowest concentration was observed in the blood (1.60 ± 0.04 mg/kg) and in bone (0.80 ± 0.01 mg/kg) of the chicks fed Pearl variety grains reared with canal water. In the second experiment, the maximum content of Cr was determined in the blood (0.74 ± 0.04 mg/kg) and bones (1.76 ± 0.02 ppm) of chicks consuming Sadaf variety grains reared with canal water and the least concentration in the blood (0.26 ± 0.03 mg/kg) and bones (1.64 ± 0.01 mg/kg) was determined on the consumption of the Pearl variety grains reared with ground water. A similar trend was observed in other body organs. It was concluded that polluted water causes higher accumulation levels of Cr in plant parts and even in animals' body parts after the utilization of such plants.

Correction to: A study on the transfer of chromium from meadows to grazing livestock: an assessment of health risk.

The affiliation of Shahzadi Mahpara is shown in this paper.

Comparative study of forage toxic metals of conventional versus non-conventional pastures in relation to animal mineral nutrient allowance.

At present, the forage production is the foundation of beef cattle and sheep industries in graziery. This study was designed to assess the toxic metal composition of the conventional pastures and non-conventional pastures in consideration of mineral needs of ruminants. At all the surveyed sites, these mean soil metal concentrations were measured to be higher or lower than the referred threshold levels. Specifically, these concentrations of Co, Pb, and Cr were observed as much higher than the referred threshold levels of 0.01-0.06 mg/kg (Co), 0.05 mg/kg (Pb), and 0.02 mg/kg (Cr). On the contrary, the mean soil concentrations of Cd were observed to be relatively lower than the threshold levels of 0.50-10 mg/kg at all sites. The estimated mean concentrations of Co, Cd, Pb, and Cr in both conventional and non-conventional forage species were measured to be lower than the referred threshold levels. The supplementation of these metals for livestock grazing from pasture was unnecessary based on these findings. However, further research should be conducted for ecological safety and conservation of ruminant forages, so that both the conventional and non-conventional pastures are employed as livestock friendly consuming forages.

Bioaccumulation of lead in different varieties of wheat plant irrigated with wastewater in remote agricultural regions.

The accumulation of heavy metals by crops irrigated with wastewater has been considered as a serious environmental problem in many developing countries, where the wastewater irrigation has emerged as a common practice. In this research, we were concerned with the highly toxic metal lead (Pb) in water, agricultural soils, and wheat crops, and the possible risk on human health in the peripheral agricultural regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Various types of irrigated water (ground, sewage, industrial), soil, and wheat plant (root, shoot, grain) samples of five different varieties (Seher-2006, Punjab-2011, Faislabad-2008, Watan, and Galaxy-2013) were collected from seven different districts and then pooled up to make one composite sample and analyzed for Cd concentration. The various pollution and mobility indices (pollution load index, enrichment factor, daily intake of metal, health risk index, translocation factor, bioaccumulation factor, and bio-concentration factor) were also calculated. The descending order for Pb concentration was as follows: water>soil>wheat plant. The range of concentration of Pb in all types of water, soil, and wheat plant (root, shoot, grains) samples was (7.05-7.83 mg/l), (6.32-7.74 mg/kg), (3.23-4.82, 1.14-2.75, 0.09-0.51 mg/kg), respectively. The concentration of Pb in all types of water samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit. There were values found to be < 1.00 in all the pollution and mobility indices for all types of samples. These results reveal that high levels of Pb in irrigated water may pollute the soil and wheat plants of these regions in the near future, if various control measures have not been taken. It may pose a great health risk to the local human and animal populations. Preventive measures should be taken to reduce heavy metal pollution of irrigation water and soils to protect both human and animal health in various regions of Punjab, Pakistan.

A study on the transfer of chromium from meadows to grazing livestock: an assessment of health risk.

The present investigation was performed in different district of Punjab to determine the chromium level in soil, forages, and blood plasma of the small ruminants (goat and sheep). The results showed that the mean concentrations of chromium in the soil of Sargodha, Mianwali, and Bhakkar districts were ranged from 1.8 to 2.3, 3.01 to 4.99, and 2.04 to 2.87 mg/kg, respectively. The chromium level was higher in Mianwali compared with Sargodha and Bhakkar. The mean concentrations of chromium in forages which were used for feeding purposes were found between 0.672 and 1.631, 1.493 and 2.612, and 0.7804 and 1.047 mg/kg for Sargodha, Mianwali, and Bhakkar, respectively. The mean concentrations of chromium in blood plasma of goat which consumed the contaminated forages were between 0.666 and 1.269 mg/L in Sargodha, 0.657 and 0.752 mg/L in Mianwali, and 1.39 and 2.37 mg/L in Bhakkar. In blood plasma of sheep, the residual levels of chromium in the districts Sargodha, Mianwali, and Bhakkar were ranged from 0.673 to 1.384, 0.83 to 1.086, and 1.496 to 3.611 mg/L, respectively. In the present research, there was a higher concentration of chromium in blood plasma of sheep from Bhakkar and the lowest was in Sargodha. The chromium level in blood samples was found to be higher than the tolerable level of 1.0 mg/L in all districts. In light of these results, it was concluded that chromium levels in the soil and forages of all sites were present within the safe limit while in blood samples of sheep and goats were found to be above the acceptable limit. Sheep and goats also consume water from river, streams, and ponds and other contaminated water sources. So it might be the reason of higher level of chromium in their blood plasma. Hence, the proper monitoring of study sites will be necessary to prevent the excessive accumulation of chromium in ruminants in the near future.