Effect of long-term application of treated sewage water on heavy metal accumulation in vegetables grown in Northern India |
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Authors: | Amlan Kr Ghosh M A Bhatt H P Agrawal |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani, Nadia, Kalyani, 741235, West Bengal, India; |
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Abstract: | Use of industrial and wastewater for irrigation is on the rise in India and other developing countries because of scarcity
of good-quality irrigation water. Wastewaters contain plant nutrients that favour crop growth but leave a burden of heavy
metals which can enter the food chain and is a cause of great concern. The present study was undertaken on the long-term impact
of irrigation with treated sewage water for growing vegetables and the potential health risk associated with consumption of
such vegetable. Treated sewage water (TSW), groundwater (GW), soil and plant samples were collected from peri urban vegetable
growing areas of Northern India (Varanasi) and analysed to assess the long-term effect of irrigation with TSW on Cd, Cr, Ni
and Pb build-up in soils and its subsequent transfer into commonly grown vegetable crops. Results indicate that TSW was richer
in essential plant nutrients but contained Cd, Cr and Ni in amounts well above the permissible limits for its use as irrigation
water. Long-term application of TSW resulted in significant build-up of total and DTPA extractable Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb over
GW irrigated sites. TSW also resulted in slight lowering in pH, increase in organic carbon (1.6 g kg − 1) and cation exchange capacity (5.2 cmol kg − 1). The tissue metal concentration and relative efficiency of transfer of heavy metals from soil to plant (transfer factor)
for various groups of vegetables were worked out. Radish, turnip and spinach were grouped as hyper accumulator of heavy metals
whereas brinjal and cauliflower accumulated less heavy metals. Health risk assessment by consumption of vegetables grown with
TSW indicated that all the vegetables were safe for human consumption. However, significant accumulation of these heavy metals
in soil and plant needs to be monitored. |
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