Heavy Metal Levels in Vegetables and Soil Cultivated with Industrial Wastewater from Different Sites of Chunian and Jamber, District, Kasur

Abstract

In human diet, vegetables play important role to maintain the physiological conditions. Due to anthropogenic activities and pollution, the food items become contaminated. The present study was performed to evaluate the level of heavy metals in the vegetables irrigated with wastewater across Chunian and Jamber, district, Kasur. Level of heavy metals from the study area like Zinc, Lead and chromium in the soil, water and vegetables was compared. The four sites of each city and 10 vegetables e.g. potato, radish, carrot, fenugreek, spinach, tomato, Onion, Turnip, Cauliflower, Pangalo were selected to conduct the experiment. The vegetables were irrigated with industrial wastewater and the concentration of heavy metals was measured by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). We concluded that the level of heavy metals was beyond the FAO limits in irrigated water due to industrial waste. In Jamber and Chunian, the level of Zn and Pb was high and beyond the FAO safe limits in the all water sample, the level of Cr was much higher only in the water sample of one site from Jamber. The concentration of zinc was higher in soil samples as compared to lead and chromium. Zn and Pb in vegetables of study area were labeled as priority pollutants but this concentration was within the safe limits set by FAO. However, constant inspection of heavy metals is recommended to avoid accumulation in the food chain and thus avoid human health risks.
 Keywords: Atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Heavy metals, Industrial wastewater, Vegetables.

Agricultural Communities’ Risk Assessment and the Effects of Climate Change: A Pathway Toward Green Productivity and Sustainable Development

“…The agricultural communities examined in this study used canal water, freshwater, and industrial waste water for irrigation. Groundwater in many parts of Pakistan is of poor quality due to high levels of soluble salts and hazardous metals (Murtaza et al, 2019;Hussain et al, 2020). Industrial wastewater is used for irrigation in some areas, and due to prevailing water scarcity, its use may increase in the coming years (Afzal et al, 2014).…”

“…Industrial wastewater is used for irrigation in some areas, and due to prevailing water scarcity, its use may increase in the coming years (Afzal et al, 2014). Many industrial companies discharge their wastewater to nearby waterways or into fields (Hussain et al, 2020;Shahid et al, 2020;Sohail et al, 2022a). The infrastructure for collecting and treating wastewater in Pakistan is inadequate (Kanwal et al, 2020;Khan et al, 2020).…”

“…Many farmers say that no one in their families experience any ill effects, although some report that they do (McCusker and Gunaydin, 2015;Shahid et al, 2020) (Table 2). Heavy metals in wastewater, soil, and vegetables should be tested regularly to avoid accumulating in the food chain and human health risks (Hussain et al, 2020). Kasur's leather industry, according to M. Afzal, damages soil, agriculture, and groundwater (Afzal et al, 2014).…”

Global evaluation of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in potato and carrot irrigated by wastewater: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and health risk assessment

“…Water shortage and high wastewater contents of organic matter and nutrient make it a valuable resource for irrigation and lead to wastewater irrigation as a common practice around the world. However, the existence of pathogens and other substances such as PHEs in raw and low-quality treated wastewater can threat the human health (84)(85)(86). Composition, source, volume, and type of wastewater are different in various areas, which influence the accumulation of PHEs in vegetables.…”

Determination of Heavy Metals Concentration in Water and Soil at Various Locations in Lahore and their Harmful Impacts on Human and Plants life

“…The most often found heavy metals in contaminated areas include lead (Pb), chrome (Cr), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and nickel (Ni) (Wuana and Okieimen,2011). People in the area where industries are located are suffering from poor health owing to pollution from the environment (Hussain et al, 2020;Afzalet al, 2013).…”