The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological properties of and heavy metal content in Lepidium sativum L. and Eruca sativa (Mill.) irrigated with municipal wastewater for 20 days. Wastewater was taken from a section where all wastewater of Adiyaman is collected. We analysed the soil for physicochemical properties, heavy metals and nutrient content and the plants for photosynthetic pigment content, dry weight and length. Irrigation wastewater increased the electrical conductivity and organic matter content in plant soil. In both plant soils, Cd and Ni content significantly increased with respect to control. Dry matter content decreased significantly in the edible parts, and the length of the edible parts increased significantly in E. sativa. Photosynthetic pigment content increased in L. sativum and decreased in E. sativa. Nutrient content changed significantly in both plants. In the edible parts of L. sativum, Cd and Ni content increased significantly compared to Pb and Cr. The edible parts of E. sativa also showed a higher Cd level than the control plant. The enrichment factor of the heavy metals in the edible parts of L. sativum followed this order: Cu> Pb > Cd > Ni > Cr and of E. sativa: Pb > Cd > Cu > Cr > Ni. The edible parts of both plants showed a high transfer factor (TF > 1) for Cd, which points to high mobility of Cd from soil to plant. In conclusion, the use of wastewater for irrigation increased heavy metal content in both plants and affected their physiological and morphological properties.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the oxidative effects of lead with increased concentrations by the determination of antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and ascorbate peroxidase (AP)) and lipid peroxidation levels in the stem and leaves of watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) which was exposed to lead acetate, Pb (CH3COOH)2 regime with concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 200, 250, and 500 mg/L Pb in a hydroponic culture. After 14 days, accumulation of lipid peroxidation in stems and leaves and changes in activity of antioxidant enzymes were determined spectrophotometrically. The maximum accumulation was observed in the highest concentration group. In this group, lipid peroxidation levels were three times higher than the control group in the stem and leaves. The highest induction in SOD and GR activities were determined at 200 mg/L Pb group in stem, whereas CAT and AP activities were higher than other groups at the concentration of 250 and 100 mg/L Pb, respectively. The increase in CAT activity was found to be greater than GR, SOD, and AP activities in stems of watercress under Pb treatment. Both lead accumulation and antioxidant enzyme responses were higher in stems than in leaves. The results of the present study suggested that the induction in antioxidant responses could be occurring as an adaptive mechanism to the oxidative potential of lead accumulation.

The present study was carried out to assess the impact of wastewater on parsley (Petroselinum crispum). The parameters determined for soil were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Fe), and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb), while the parameters determined for the plant included pigment content, dry matter, nutrient element, and heavy metals. SOM, EC, and clay contents were higher, and pH was slightly acidic in soil treated with wastewater compared to control soil. The enrichment factors (EF) of the nutrient elements in contaminated soil are in the sequence of Na (2) > Ca (1.32) > Mn = Mg (1.17) > Cu (1.11) > Zn (1.08) > Fe (1.07) > K (0.93), while EF in parsley are Na (6.63) > Ca (1.60) > Mg (1.34) > Zn (1.15) > Fe (0.95) > Cu = K (0.90) > Mn (0.85). Application of wastewater significantly decreased dry matter, while photosynthetic pigment content increased in parsley. The enrichment of the heavy metals is in the sequence: Cd (1.142) > Pb (1.131) > Ni (1.112) > Cr (1.095). P. crispum shows a high transfer factor (TF > 1) for Cd signifying a high mobility of Cd from soil to plant. Thus, although the wastewater irrigation in parsley production aims to produce socioeconomic benefits, study results indicated that municipal wastewater is not suitable for irrigation of parsley because it has negative effects on plant and causes heavy metal accumulation.

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