Journal article
Accumulation pattern and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in selected wastewater-irrigated soils and plants in Vehari, Pakistan
Environmental research, Vol.214(Part 3), 114033
08/08/2022
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Abstract
There are scarce data about the accumulation pattern and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil and associated potential ecological risks, especially in less-developed countries. This study aims to assess the pollution levels and potential ecological risks of PTEs (As, Cr, Cd, Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) in wastewater-irrigated arable soils and different edible-grown plants in selected areas of Vehari, Pakistan. The results revealed that the values of PTEs in soil samples were higher than their respective limit values by 20% for As, 87% for Cd, 15% for Cu, 2% for Cr, 83% for Mn, 98% for Fe, and 7% for Zn. The values of soil risk indices such as the potential ecological risk (PERI >380 for all samples), pollution load index (PLI >4 for 94% of studied samples), and degree of contamination (Dc > 24 for all samples) showed severe soil contamination in the study area. Some vegetables exhibited a high metal accumulation index (e.g., 8.1 for onion), signifying potential associated health hazards. Thus, long-term wastewater irrigation has led to severe soil contamination, which can pose potential ecological risks via PTE accumulation in crops, particularly Cd. Therefore, to ensure food safety, frequent wastewater irrigation practices need to be minimized and managed in the study area.
Details
- Title
- Accumulation pattern and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in selected wastewater-irrigated soils and plants in Vehari, Pakistan
- Creators
- Natasha Natasha - COMSATS University IslamabadMuhammad Shahid - COMSATS University IslamabadBehzad Murtaza - COMSATS University IslamabadIrshad Bibi - University of Agriculture FaisalabadSana Khalid - COMSATS University IslamabadAbdullah A. Al-Kahtani - King Saud UniversityRabia Naz - Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, PakistanEsmat F. Ali - Taif UniversityNabeel Khan Niazi - University of Agriculture FaisalabadJörg Rinklebe - University of WuppertalSabry M. Shaheen - University of Wuppertal
- Publication Details
- Environmental research, Vol.214(Part 3), 114033
- Comment
- Dr. Shahid thanks Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for financing the project. This work was supported by the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program (DSFP) at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The author Esmat F. Ali is also thankful to Taif University, Saudi Arabia, for the financial support and research facilities.
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Grant note
- Higher Education Commission of Pakistan Project 20–4423/R&D/HEC/14/980. Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/65),
- Identifiers
- 991013052013702368
- Copyright
- © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article