Assessment of heavy metal pollution in vegetables and relationships with soil heavy metal distribution in Zhejiang province,China

There are increasing concerns on heavy metal contaminant in soils and vegetables. In this study, we investigated heavy metal pollution in vegetables and the corresponding soils in the main vegetable production regions of Zhejiang province, China. A total of 97 vegetable samples and 202 agricultural soil samples were analyzed for the concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Cr. The average levels of Cd, Pb, and Cr in vegetable samples [Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris spp. Pekinensis), pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), celery (Apium graveolens), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), cucumber (Colletotrichum lagenarium), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), and eggplant (Solanum melongena)] were 0.020, 0.048, and 0.043 mg kg^?1, respectively. The Pb and Cr concentrations in all vegetable samples were below the threshold levels of the Food Quality Standard (0.3 and 0.5 mg kg^?1, respectively), except that two eggplant samples exceeded the threshold levels for Cd concentrations (0.05 mg kg^?1). As and Hg contents in vegetables were below the detection level (0.005 and 0.002 mg kg^?1, respectively). Soil pollution conditions were assessed in accordance with the Chinese Soil Quality Criterion (GB15618-1995, Grade II); 50 and 68 soil samples from the investigated area exceeded the maximum allowable contents for Cd and Hg, respectively. Simple correlation analysis revealed that there were significantly positive correlations between the metal concentrations in vegetables and the corresponding soils, especially for the leafy and stem vegetables such as pakchoi, cabbage, and celery. Bio-concentration factor values for Cd are higher than those for Pb and Cr, which indicates that Cd is more readily absorbed by vegetables than Pb and Cr. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the possible pollution of heavy metals in vegetables, especially Cd.     

Heavy metal pollution in surface soils of Pearl River Delta,China

Heavy metal pollution is an increasing environmental problem in Chinese regions undergoing rapid economic and industrial development, such as the Pearl River Delta (PRD), southern China. We determined heavy metal concentrations in surface soils from the PRD. The soils were polluted with heavy metals, as defined by the Chinese soil quality standard grade II criteria. The degree of pollution decreased in the order Cd?>?Cu?>?Ni?>?Zn?>?As?>?Cr?>?Hg?>?Pb. The degree of heavy metal pollution by land use decreased in the order waste treatment plants (WP)?>?urban land (UL)?>?manufacturing industries (MI)?>?agricultural land (AL)?>?woodland (WL)?>?water sources (WS). Pollution with some of the metals, including Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn, was attributed to the recent rapid development of the electronics and electroplating industries. Cd, Hg, and Pb (especially Cd) pose high potential ecological risks in all of the zones studied. The soils posing significantly high and high potential ecological risks from Cd covered 73.3 % of UL, 50 % of MI and WP land, and 48.5 % of AL. The potential ecological risks from heavy metals by land use decreased in the order UL?>?MI?>?AL?>?WP?>?WL?>?WS. The control of Cd, Hg, and Pb should be prioritized in the PRD, and emissions in wastewater, residue, and gas discharges from the electronics and electroplating industry should be decreased urgently. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides should also be decreased.     

Distribution of heavy metals in agricultural soils near a petrochemical complex in Guangzhou, China

The aim of the study was to investigate influence of an industrialized environment on the accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils. Seventy soil samples collected from surface layers (0-20 cm) and horizons of five selected pedons in the vicinity area of petrochemical complex in Guangzhou, China were analyzed for Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg and As concentrations, the horizontal and vertical variation of these metals were studied and geographic information system (GIS)-based mapping techniques were applied to generate spatial distribution maps. The mean concentrations of these heavy metals in the topsoils did not exceed the maximum allowable concentrations in agricultural soil of China with the exception of Hg. Significant differences between land-use types showed that Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg and As concentrations in topsoils were strongly influenced by agricultural practices and soil management. Within a radius of 1,300 m there were no marked decreasing trends for these element concentrations (except for Zn) with the increase of distance from the complex boundary, which reflected little influence of petroleum air emission on soil heavy metal accumulation. Concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg and As in the five pedons, particularly in cultivated vegetable field and orchard, decreased with soil depth, indicating these elements mainly originated from anthropogenic sources. GIS mapping was a useful tool for evaluating spatial variability of heavy metals in the affected soil. The spatial distribution maps allowed the identification of hot-spot areas with high metal concentration. Effective measures should be taken to avoid or minimize heavy metal further contamination of soils and to remediate the contaminated areas in order to prevent pollutants affecting human health through agricultural products.     

杭州地区农业土壤中重金属的分布特征及其环境意义

为了分析杭州地区农业土壤重金属的分布特征及其环境意义,通过现场采样和室内分析检测的方法,对杭州市各区县不同作物农业土壤表层土中的Hg、As、Cu、Pb、Cr、Cd 6种重金属元素进行检测,并对其分布特征进行了分析。结果表明,杭州地区农业土壤中除As外,其他5种重金属的平均含量均低于且接近浙江省土壤背景值,个别采样点的重金属含量超过了土壤环境质量国家二级标准。总体上,杭州地区农业土壤处于安全水平。通过重金属的区域分布特征分析表明,余杭区和富阳市农业土壤中重金属平均含量普遍高于其他区域。萧山区和建德市部分农业土壤则存在Cu和Hg含量较高的情况,而淳安县农业土壤中重金属含量差异较大,土壤中出现了As、Cr和Cd含量最大值。不同作物的农业土壤重金属含量存在一定的差异,但不明显。水稻田和蔬菜地的土壤中,重金属含量较其他作物种植类型的土壤中含量高;叶菜类(蔬菜、茶叶)作物土壤中的Cd含量要比根茎类(水稻)、茄果类(水果)及其他作物种植类型的土壤中的含量低。目前杭州地区土壤中6种重金属含量均对作物的直接危害不大,但由于萧山区个别采样点Cu含量严重超标,淳安县土壤中Cd受外源性来源影响也已较明显,需要相关部门加大监管力度,防止污染事件发生。同时,为防止农业土壤中重金属含量进一步升高,需要加大大气降尘监测与治理、废气污染监管与控制治理。     

Heavy metal accumulation in vegetables grown in a long-term wastewater-irrigated agricultural land of tropical India

In the present study, the magnitude of contamination of vegetables with heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) was determined in a long-term wastewater-irrigated agricultural land. Heavy metal concentrations in vegetables were several folds higher in wastewater-irrigated site compared to clean water-irrigated area. The wastewater-irrigated crops analysed in this study are heavily contaminated with heavy metals. Concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr in all the sewage-fed vegetables were beyond the safe limit of FAO/WHO and Indian standard. Contamination is at its highest level in radish and spinach. Daily intake values of Pb, Cd and Ni through consumption of sewage-fed vegetables exceeded the recommended oral dose of metal for both adult and children. The study concludes that wastewater irrigation led to accumulation of heavy metals in vegetables causing potential health risk to consumers.     

典型铝塑厂周边土壤重金属分布特征与健康风险评价

为探究铝塑园区周边土壤重金属污染情况,选取山东省某城市塑料开发区为研究区,按照分层采样方式获取到80个土壤样品,分别测定土壤中As、Cd、Hg、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn含量,运用统计分析法探讨土壤重金属等的分布特征和来源,并利用健康风险评价模型确定了土壤重金属对周边居民的健康风险。结果表明:As、Cd、Hg、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn均超出山东省土壤背景值,其中Cd、Hg、Cu和Pb分别超出背景值48. 15%、106. 90%、62. 04%和39. 96%,表明土壤中存在一定程度的重金属积累,在周边140～210 m处最为严重,且受人类活动影响强烈,与风向关系不大;土壤重金属垂直分布特征大致呈现随着深度的增加不断增加,在20 cm深度附近达到最高值,其后不断降低并趋于平稳,Cd、Hg、Cu、Pb和Zn变异幅度大,受到人为干扰较大,As、Cr和Ni主要受成土母质控制,属于自然来源,变动幅度较小;研究区内8种元素不存在非致癌风险,Cr、As、Ni和Cd产生的致癌风险处在可接受范围内,但存在的潜在致癌风险应引起足够的重视。     

Trace metals in soil and vegetables and associated health risk assessment

The objective of this study was to assess the contamination level of trace metals in soil and vegetables and health risk to the urban population in Bangladesh. The range of Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb in agricultural soils was 158–1160, 104–443, 157–519, 41–93, 3.9–13, and 84–574 mg/kg, respectively. Sequential extraction tests revealed that the studied metals were predominantly associated with the residual fraction, followed by the organically bound phase. Concerning Cu, Ni, Cd, and Pb in vegetables, more than 50 % samples exceeded the FAO/WHO recommended permissible limits. Considering the transfer of metals from soil to vegetables, Cu and Cd exhibited higher transfer factor (TF) values than the other metals. Target hazard quotient (THQ) for individual metal was below 1, suggesting that people would not experience significant health hazards if they ingest a single metal from vegetables. However, total metal THQ signifies the potential non-carcinogenic health hazard to the highly exposed consumers. The carcinogenic risk (TR) of As (1.9?×?10^?4) and Pb (2.3?×?10^?5) through consumption of vegetables were higher than the USEPA threshold level (10^?6), indicating potential cancer risks.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the wolf spider, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pardosa astrigera</Emphasis> L. Koch (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Previous studies have proposed that Pardosa astrigera L. Koch (Lycosidae) can be used as a biological indicator of heavy metal contamination in soil. In this study, we estimated the bioaccumulation levels and the bioconcentration factors (BCF) of four heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in adult female P. astrigera collected from various field sites according to heavy metal content gradient and broods. The relationship between heavy metal content in the soil and that in spiders was different depending on the heavy metals and the broods. However, heavy metal content in P. astrigera increased with increasing heavy metal content in the soil. While the heavy metal content in the soil was in the order of Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd, its content in P. astrigera was in the order Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb. The BCF for Cd in both of the broods was distinctly higher than those of the other heavy metals evaluated. These results indicate that P. astrigera may be useful as a biological indicator of Cd soil contamination.     

贵州农业非点源污染土壤重金属含量特征及区域差异性研究

贵州农用地土壤在长期的耕作过程中,承载大量的重金属污染物,影响土壤质量。采集了贵州东部、南部、中部、北部主要农业非点源重金属污染区土壤样品进行检测。结果表明,贵州农业非点源重金属污染物主要是Hg、Pb,贵州省农业非点源污染土壤中重金属累积污染程度Hg＞Pb＞Cd＞As＞Cr。各地区污染物种类和程度不同,重金属As污染为中部地区较高,农业土壤Hg、Pb污染主要集中在中部和东部地区,Cd污染主要发生在南部区域。     

长沙市某集中式饮用水水源地周边土壤重金属污染特征和风险评价

以长沙某河库兼用型饮用水水源地一、二级保护区土壤为研究对象,于2018年8月采用网格布点法在一级和二级保护区分别布设3个和7个采样点,在水源地历史采样区布设5个采样点,探究土壤中Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni、Hg、As的含量分布及污染水平。结果表明：土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn的含量均值分别为46.56、4.90、81.87、46.64、0.19、30.11、75.11、237.93 mg/kg。重金属元素含量均值超过农用地污染风险筛选值的样品占比排序为Cd （86.7%）>Zn （60%）>As （53.3%）>Cu （6.7%）=Pb （6.7%）。土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn的单因子污染指数分别为1.55、16.34、0.41、0.47、0.08、0.30、0.63、0.95,主要为Cd、As污染。研究区土壤重金属综合污染指数为11.71,属重污染等级。水源地一级保护区、二级保护区、历史采样区2018年、历史采样区2014年土壤重金属综合污染指数分别为20.41、14.94、1.98、1.17。后期应加强对该饮用水水源地土壤中Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn、As的污染控制和治理。