Ecological risk assessment of trace elements (TEs) pollution and human health risk exposure in agricultural soils used for saffron cultivation

Abstract

Contamination of farmland soils by trace elements (TEs) has become an international issue concerning food safety and human health risks. In the present research, the concentrations of TEs including cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) in soils of 16 farmlands were determined in Gonabad, Iran. In addition, the human health risks due to exposure to the TEs from the soils were assessed. Moreover, the soil contamination likelihood was evaluated based on various contamination indices including contamination factor $$(\mathrm{CF}$$ ( CF ), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLI) calculations. The soil mean concentrations for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Fe ranges as 0.102, 6.968, 22.550, 29.263, 475.281, 34.234, 13.617, 54.482 and 19,683.6 mg/kg in farmland soils. The mean concentrations of the TEs decreased in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Cd. Levels of all metals in this study were within the FAO/WHO and Iranian soil standards. The HQ values from investigated elements for adults and children in the studied farms were less than the limit of 1, indicating no health risks for the studied subpopulations. The results of the present research indicated no significant carcinogenic health hazards for both adults and children through ingestion, skin contact and inhalation exposure routes. $$\mathrm{CF}$$ CF values of Ni and Zn in 100% and 6.25% of farmlands were above 1, showing moderate contamination conditions. EF values of metals in farmlands were recorded as “no enrichment”, “minimal enrichment” and “moderate enrichment” classes. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the all farms were uncontaminated except Ni (moderately contaminated) based on Igeo. This is an indication that the selected TEs in the agricultural soils have no appreciable threat to human health.

Effect of fertilization on the accumulation and health risk for heavy metals in native Andean potatoes in the highlands of Perú

“…The concentrations of Cu in the soil with the application of IF and PM exceeded the Canadian standard. The trend in heavy metal concentrations in the soils across all treatments was Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd, which is consistent with other studies reported in the literature [10] , [67] , [84] . The presence of heavy metals (Cu, As, Zn, Cd) in animal manure could be related to the diet of the animals, due to the excessive application of additives to animal's feed to improve growth, increase weight, food efficiency, reproduction of the animals [44] , [45] .…”

“…The use of poultry and cattle manure, inorganic fertilizers, and pesticides in cultivation contributes to the release of heavy metals, thus contaminating the soil [84] . However, for the conditions of our experiment, it was not demonstrated that there is a health risk for consumers due to exposure to heavy metals.…”

Heavy metal contamination in Shanghai agricultural soil

“…Heavy metals in soil could enter agricultural products and pose both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks for human beings, and children are especially vulnerable [ [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] ]. The main types of heavy metal or metalloid in soil include Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni, etc .…”

Effect of freeze–thaw manipulation on phytostabilization of industrially contaminated soil with halloysite nanotubes

“…The reactions of plants that are grown or occur naturally in contaminated areas also reveal characteristic signs of the toxic effects of these PTEs. Moreover, the danger connected with the presence of PTEs in the soil is connected with the possibility of them spreading to surface and ground waters and their contamination 3 .…”