Heavy metals contamination in vegetables irrigated with wastewater: a case study of underdeveloping regions of Pakistan. 2023

Ana Aslam, and Asifa Naz, and Syed Shahid Hussain Shah, and Farah Rasheed, and Raheela Naz, and Amina Kalsom, and Nisa Mukhtar, and Abid Niaz, and Muhammad Aftab, and Irfan Rasheed, and Muhammad Arfan Ul Haq, and Muhammad Arif, and Aamer Sattar, and Sarfraz Hussain
Soil Chemistry Section, Institute of Soil Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan. anaaslam1704@gmail.com.

Irrigation of food crops with untreated wastewater leads to the accumulation of heavy metals in their edible parts. Exposure to toxic elements through consumption of contaminated vegetables even at very low concentration is becoming a serious problem for human health in many countries. This issue of heavy metals contamination needs great attention especially in Pakistan where irrigation by wastewater has become a common practice in urban and periurban areas. The present study was conducted to assess the contamination of different heavy metals including nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in vegetables irrigated with wastewater in different districts of Punjab (Pakistan) like, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Multan, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur during years 2016-2019. The maximum contamination factor (Ni, 1.39; Cd, 5.86; Pb, 3.99; Cr, 2.24), pollution load index (2.92) and degree of contamination (13.48) were observed in wastewater irrigated agricultural soils of district Gujranwala as compared to other districts. Mean metal concentration in vegetables grown with untreated wastewater and transfer factor varied with plant type, frequency of irrigation and soils types/series of different districts of Punjab. The highest metal contamination was observed in Gujranwala where 44% vegetable samples were contaminated with Ni, 87% with Cd, 97% with Pb and 88% with Cr. Radar analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that mustard leaves, spinach and lettuce were more contaminated vegetables compared to other vegetables. This study contributes to the evidence-based conclusion that cultivation of vegetable with untreated wastewater should be prohibited and required treatment of wastewater is needed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007854 Lead A soft, grayish metal with poisonous salts; atomic number 82, atomic weight 207.2, symbol Pb.
D009532 Nickel A trace element with the atomic symbol Ni, atomic number 28, and atomic weight 58.69. It is a cofactor of the enzyme UREASE.
D010154 Pakistan A country located in southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north. The capital is Islamabad. Islamic Republic of Pakistan
D002104 Cadmium An element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 112.41. It is a metal and ingestion will lead to CADMIUM POISONING.
D002857 Chromium A trace element that plays a role in glucose metabolism. It has the atomic symbol Cr, atomic number 24, and atomic weight 52. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP85-002,1985), chromium and some of its compounds have been listed as known carcinogens.
D004784 Environmental Monitoring The monitoring of the level of toxins, chemical pollutants, microbial contaminants, or other harmful substances in the environment (soil, air, and water), workplace, or in the bodies of people and animals present in that environment. Monitoring, Environmental,Environmental Surveillance,Surveillance, Environmental
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012987 Soil The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants. Peat,Humus,Soils
D012989 Soil Pollutants Substances which pollute the soil. Use for soil pollutants in general or for which there is no specific heading. Soil Pollutant,Pollutant, Soil,Pollutants, Soil

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