The present investigation was carried out to evaluate trace metals concentration in soils and vegetable crops growing in agricultural fields around Tummalapalle uranium mining area, Pulivendula, Kadapa Dist, Andhra Pradesh. For this study the cultivated crops such as Capsicum annuum (Green chilli), Solanum melongena (Brinjal), Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato), Abelmoschus esculentus and Arachis hypogea (Ground nut) were selected. Soil and plant samples were evaluated for trace elements by using (ICP-OES). As for the estimated data, the concentrations of trace metals in ground nut and vegetables are found in the range of 0.14-1.2 mg/kg for B, 46-58.12 mg/kg for Ca, 0.49-3 mg/kg for Cu, 40.6-69.36 mg/kg for Fe, 76.84-91.72 mg/kg for K, 12.64-25.28 mg/kg for Mg, 0.51-2.1 mg/kg for Mn, 0.16-2.56 mg/kg for Mo, 20.85-25.2 mg/kg for P, 0.34-0.8 mg/kg for Zn, 0.3-0.64 mg/kg for Pb and 0.01-0.02 mg/kg for Se. (BAF) Bioaccumulation Factor (TF) Translocation Factor and (BAC) Bioaccumulation Coefficient, remained considered for the evaluation of movement of trace elements from soil to shoot, root to shoot and soil to entire plant. Solanum melongena (B, Zn) and Solanum lycopersicum (Mn, Mo) plants showed high TF values from roots to the shoots. These plants are appropriate for phytoextraction. The BAF data shows that all considered plants were excluders (< 1) and good accumulators (1-10) for all metals except Mo. But whereas BAC reveals that, all studied plants can be considered as hyper accumulators (> 10) for Mo, P and Zn.
INTRODUCTIONSoils may become contaminated by the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids through emissions from the rapidly expanding industrial areas, mine tailings, disposal of high metal wastes, leaded gasoline and paints, land application of fertilizers, animal manures, sewage sludge, pesticides, wastewater irrigation, coal combustion residues, spillage of petrochemicals and atmospheric deposition [1,2]. The intensification of mining operations, crushing, washing and smelting of the ore were performed close to the mining site and the amount of mining residues deposited in soils in and around the mining site. The heaviest deposition of airborne metal particles occurs in the vicinity of mines, smelters and metal processing/heavy engineering works, which constitute the main emission sources. But many of the particles are very fine that they can be carried to enormous distances by the wind [3].Heavy metal contamination of soil may pose risks and hazards to humans and the ecosystem through direct ingestion or contact with contaminated soil, the food chain (soil-planthuman or soil-plant-animal-human), drinking of contaminated ground water, reduction in food quality (safety and marketability) via phytotoxicity, reduction in land usability for agricultural production causing food insecurity and land tenure problems [4].
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