Heavy metal pollution in soils and urban-grown organic vegetables in the province of Sevilla, Spain

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in urban-grown organic vegetables and soils of the province of Sevilla, Spain Sources of heavy metal pollution in vegetables can be varied. The focus of this study was to determine the factors affecting trace metal pollution in soils and vegetables that are grown on community urban and periurban organic farms in Spain. Results of this study shown that soil and dust deposition affected plant composition more than other anthropogenic sources, such as traffic loads, which showed a small incidence on the farm located in the largest city, Sevilla. Lettuce and broad bean samples taken at one urban farm showed high concentrations of crustal metals Fe, Ca, Mn and Cr, which was thought be due to Saharan dust deposition. The buildup of soil Cu concentration, due to the use of Cu-based fungicide over the long term, was observed on the farm where cultivation had occurred over a long period of time. On this farm, Pb in soil and vegetables had reached levels that could pose a risk to human health and/or the environment due to the random and uncontrolled locations of the disposal of demolition wastes containing lead-based white paints. The increased risks for consumers due to these several sources acting simultaneously demonstrate the need for a careful selection of the urban soils that are intended for agricultural use. Soil organic matter counteracted Pb availability, hence organic management and intensive use of organic amendments are recommended for urban farms.

Soil and Human Health: Current Status and Future Needs

“…113 The use of brownfields for gardening and wastewater for irrigation can pose serious problems related to contamination of the vegetables produced in these areas. 114,115 Some urban areas studies have shown the levels of pollutant accumulation in vegetables did not threaten human health, such as Barcelona, Spain 113,116 ; Sevilla, Spain 117 ; Lisbon, Portugal 118 ; Madrid, Spain 119 ; Sheffield, UK 120 ; and Braganca, Portugal. 121 However, in other cities, the pollutant levels identified were high and threatened human health, including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 122 ; Daejeon, South Korea 123 ; Rome, Italy 124 ; Melbourne, Australia 125 ; Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan 126 ; and Ghaziabad, India.…”

Sources, Mobility, Reactivity, and Remediation of Heavy Metal(loid) Pollution: A Review

“…Since the late 1970s, there has been an effort to reduce the use of Pb in various products, such as gasoline, paints for residential applications, cans for food products, and plumbing systems [3]. López et al (2019) [27] detected high levels of Pb in the soil of an urban farm, which was attributed to the construction demolition wastes dumped into the soil at the site close to where the urban farm was located. These construction wastes contained white paints, which are characteristic of the Mediterranean countries.…”

“…This inorganic Cu form is insoluble in water and is, therefore, not washed off easily by irrigation water or rainwater, thereby providing longer protection against diseases [41]. López et al (2019) [27] detected high concentrations of Cu in the leaves of urban plants and linked it to the use of copper-based fungicides, even though traffic pollution is usually considered the main source of Cu released into the environment in urban regions.…”

“…The nearby countries such as Spain and other Mediterranean nations, therefore, receive the "red rain", which is a meteorological event involving the transport of the aforementioned dust from the North African sources. López et al (2019) [27] reported that this dust deposition affected the crops in an urban farm located in the largest city of Sevilla (Spain). The sample crops of lettuce and broad bean exhibited high concentrations of crustal metals, including Fe, Co, Mn, and Cr, which was attributed to the Saharan dust deposition.…”

Human Health Risk Assessment on the Consumption of Apples Growing in Urbanized Areas: Case of Kharkiv, Ukraine

“…In the economically developed countries, the risks from consumption of urban vegetable crops are related with emission of pollutants by industrial enterprises and motor vehicles. In particular, the increased concentrations of HM were found in vegetable products of city gardens in Brazil [ 19 ], Korea [ 20 ], Spain [ 21 ], Germany [ 22 ], and many other countries.…”