Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in vegetables irrigated with groundwater and wastewater: The particular case of Sahiwal district in Pakistan

Khalil ur Rehman, Syed Mohsin Bukhari, Shahla Andleeb, Adeel Mahmood, Kehinde O. Erinle, Mian Muhammad Naeem and Qaiser Imran

Agricultural Water Management, 2019, vol. 226, issue C

Abstract: The use of wastewater for irrigation is a common practice in the developing world. It is a major route of heavy metal contamination in vegetables. The groundwater, an alternative source for irrigation, is under threat of heavy metal contamination due to long-term use of wastewater. The present study investigated heavy metals contamination from irrigation with wastewater compared to groundwater in District Sahiwal situated in the vicinity of Lahore, Pakistan. Irrigated water, soil and vegetables were analyzed for Iron, Nickel, Lead, copper, Cadmium, Manganese and Zinc; Metal transfer factor (MTF); daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk index (HRI) were calculated. Manganese (Mn) and Cd in wastewater irrigated soil, Pb, Cd, Mn and Fe in wastewater-irrigated vegetables and Pb, Mn and Fe in groundwater-irrigated vegetables exceeded the permissible limits (WHO, 1996), particularly in Mustard and Spinach. Generally, MTF was higher in wastewater than groundwater-irrigated vegetables, particularly with Fe followed by Ni. HRI was higher for wastewater-irrigated than groundwater-irrigated vegetables. Wastewater-irrigated Mustard and Spinach showed a HRI > 1 only for Mn. Quality control mechanisms need to be applied for long-term use of groundwater. Also, treatment of wastewater prior to application to plants must be considered to save crops from contamination.

Keywords: Daily intake of metals; Human health; Lahore; Metal accumulation; Risk assessment; Vegetables (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:226:y:2019:i:c:s0378377419310832

DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105816

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