Influence of prolonged use of sewage effluent in irrigation on heavy metal accumulation in soils and plants

Abstract

Total content of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Co in soils irrigated with sewage effluent increased with increasing years of using sewage effluent in irrigation. Iron and Co applied to the soil from sewage effluent were immobilized mainly in unavailable form; Pb, Cd, and Ni in moderately available form; and Mn, Zn, and Cu in highly available form. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in tops of alfalfa and leaves of corn grown on these soils increased substantially with increased levels of available metal content of the soil, while those of other metals were little affected. As for orange, continuous increase in leaves metal content with time was found for Fe, Mn, Zn, Co and Cd. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Ni and Pb in corn grains and orange fruits were several times higher than normal, and this reduces their suitability for human consumption.

Effects of Long-Term Heavy Metal Contamination on Diversity of Terricolous Fungi and Nematodes in Egypt - A Case Study

“…Our results in agreement with Eid (1984), Aboulrous et al (1989), Ali et al (1993), Kamel (2001), and Ramadan (2003) who found that heavy metals content increased with time of using sewage or polluted effluent in irrigation. Different approaches either biotic or a combination from biotic and abiotic environmental components have been applied by scientists dealing with pollution in wetland ecosystems.…”

Urban soil pollution in Damascus, Syria: concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of the Damascus Ghouta

“…As most of the untreated effluent from Damascus city was used for irrigation for many years primarily in the central Barada area, the heavy metal pollution of Damascus city is mirrored by a significant accumulation of Pb, Cu and Zn in the soils along the main branches of the Barada River. Similar accumulations of heavy metal as an effect of effluent irrigation were reported by several authors (e.g., Cameron et al, 1997;Aboulrous et al, 1988). those of Pb, Cu and Zn.…”

Effect of long-term irrigation with sewage effluent on the metal content of soils, Berlin, Germany

“…Such wastewater disposal practices are known to cause salinity and sodicity as well as undesirable loads in organic and inorganic chemicals in the irrigated soils. In particular, increases in metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) are well known from sewage farm soils that have been subjected to the long-term irrigation with wastewater (e.g., Aboulroos et al 1989;Siebe and Fischer 1996;Xiong et al 2001Xiong et al , 2004Li et al 2006Li et al , 2009a. In addition, the presence of elevated Ag values in sewage may impact on sewage-amended soils (Hirsch 1998;Johansson et al 1998).…”