Logo image
Back
Assessment of toxic metals contamination, co-occurrence, and health hazards in rice grains and soils irrigated with wastewater
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Assessment of toxic metals contamination, co-occurrence, and health hazards in rice grains and soils irrigated with wastewater

T. Younas and W. Younas
International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran), Vol.22(10), pp.8869-8882
02/12/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-024-06219-x
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

Metrics

1 Record Views

Abstract

wastewater soil contamination potentially toxic metals basmati rice grains ecological risks human health risks
Improperly treated wastewater irrigation leads to the accumulation of Potentially Toxic Metals (PTMs) in soil and crops, posing threats to ecosystems and human health. This study focused on assessing wastewater, soil, and Basmati rice grains (BRGs) from Hafizabad district, Pakistan, to understand the impact of improperly treated wastewater irrigation on soil quality, ecological systems, and human health. The analysis revealed varying levels of PTM pollution in wastewater sources across different sites, with significant accumulation observed in soil (Cr approximate to 285.33 mg/kg to 312.62 mg/kg, Pb approximate to 154.23 mg/kg to 175.22 mg/kg, Zn approximate to 119.66 mg/kg to 163.71 mg/kg, Cu approximate to 132.42 mg/kg to 160.86 mg/kg) and BRGs (Cr approximate to 0.87 mg/kg to 1.1 mg/kg, Pb approximate to 0.19 mg/kg to 0.22 mg/kg, Zn approximate to 37.7 mg/kg to 40.0 mg/kg, Cu approximate to 8.0 mg/kg to 11.8 mg/kg, Ni approximate to 0.45 mg/kg to 0.49 mg/kg, Co approximate to 0.79 mg/kg to 1.13 mg/kg) irrigated with this wastewater. Soil irrigated with this wastewater showed moderate to very high PTM contamination but a low potential ecological risk. Daily intake of PTMs through BRGs from these sites remained within safety limits set by regulatory authorities. Human Health Risk Index values for all PTMs were below the safe limit of 1, suggesting no immediate health hazards from consuming BRGs. However, prolonged wastewater irrigation could increase PTM levels in soil and BRGs over time, posing potential risks to consumers. The study highlighted the complex process of PTM translocation to BRGs, emphasizing the need for further research into these mechanisms.

Details

Logo image