Bioaccumulation and Mobility of Heavy Metals in the Soil-Plant System and Health Risk Assessment of Vegetables Irrigated by Wastewater

Muhammad Tansar Abbas, Mohammad Ahmad Wadaan, Hidayat Ullah (), Muhammad Farooq, Fozia Fozia (), Ijaz Ahmad, Muhammad Farooq Khan, Almohannad Baabbad and Zia Ullah
Additional contact information
Muhammad Tansar Abbas: Institute of Chemical Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan 29220, Pakistan
Mohammad Ahmad Wadaan: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Hidayat Ullah: Institute of Chemical Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan 29220, Pakistan
Muhammad Farooq: National Center of Excellence in Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
Fozia Fozia: Department of Biochemistry, KMU Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat 26000, Pakistan
Ijaz Ahmad: Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Sciences & Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan
Muhammad Farooq Khan: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Almohannad Baabbad: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Zia Ullah: College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and vegetables is presently a challenging environmental concern worldwide. The present study was designed to elucidate heavy metals contamination of vegetables irrigated with domestic wastewater and associated health risks. The study area comprises three zones: Kot Addu, Alipur, and Muzaffargarh. A total of 153 samples of wastewater, topsoil, and vegetables were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and concentration levels of eight metal elements (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr) determined through analytical procedures. The outcome of the present investigation reveals that heavy metal concentrations in wastewater, soil, and vegetables irrigated with wastewater were slightly higher than the WHO-suggested limit. The heavy metals concentration observed in vegetables irrigated with wastewater can be ranked in order of Ni > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Fe > Zn > Cd. Transfer factor (TF), daily ingestion of metals (DIM), and health risk index (HRI) were calculated. Spinach exhibited higher values of transfer factor than cabbage, cauliflower, and radish, which were followed by tinda and carrot. Minimum values of HRI were observed for Cr (0.0109) in almost all of the vegetables ingested by adults and children. Cabbage exhibited higher values of HRI for Pb (4.0656) in adults, followed by cadmium (HRI = 2.993). Minimum values of HRI were calculated for Cd (0.0115; child). Cauliflower exhibited higher values of HRI (5.2768) for Pb in children. Pb, HRI values (4.5902) were observed in adults living in Kot Addu. The results exhibited similar trends of HRI in adults and children living in Muzaffargarh and Alipur.

Keywords: heavy metals; vegetables; metals intake; health risk; wastewater-irrigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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