Arsenic Uptake by Muskmelon (Cucumis melo) Plants from Contaminated Water

Abstract

Arsenic is a carcinogenic element that occurs naturally in the environment. High levels of arsenic are found in water in some parts of the world, including Texas. The aims of this study were to determine the distribution of arsenic in muskmelon (Cucumis melo) plants accumulated from arsenic spiked water and to observe effects on plant biomass. Plants were grown and irrigated using water spiked with variable concentrations of arsenic. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to quantify arsenic in different parts of the plant and fruit. Under all conditions tested in this study, the highest concentrations of arsenic were found in the leaves, soil, and roots. Arsenic in the water had no significant effect on plant biomass. Fruits analyzed in this study had arsenic concentrations of 101 μg/kg or less. Consuming these fruits would result in less arsenic exposure than drinking water at recommended levels.

Absorption of arsenic from soil and water by two chard (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties: A potential risk to human health

“…These results coincide with those of other researchers, who showed that small As amounts stimulate plant growth (Gulz et al, 2005;Spagnoletti et al, 2015). As reported by Hettick et al (2016), when melon (Cucumis melo) was exposed to irrigation with 10 mg/L of As, it developed a greater biomass than the control. Carbonell-Barrachina et al (1995) observed that arsenate applications at 0.2e0.8 mg/L concentrations in hydroponic culture significantly increased root and stem dry matter yield of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens, as compared to control plants.…”

Impact of Silicon Nanoparticles on the Antioxidant Compounds of Tomato Fruits Stressed by Arsenic

“…This is because arsenic accumulates mainly in the root, while only a small portion is translocated to shoots with even smaller quantities to fruits [38]. Several studies have shown the presence of arsenic in fruits at very low concentrations [13,39,40], and so the risk for human consumption is very low.…”