Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals to Children Following Non-dietary Exposures and Sugarcane Consumption in a Rural Area in Southern China

Heavy Metals and Microbial Activity in Alluvial Soils Affected by Different Land-Uses

“…This clearly suggests that under sugarcane monoculture, anthropogenic inputs through agricultural activities have increased heavy metal concentrations in such soils to grades surpassing the lithogenic contribution of weathering. Significant increments in heavy metal concentration in agricultural soils under different farming systems have been reported in several parts of the world (Sun et al 2013;da Silva et al, 2016;Tang et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020;Qin et al, 2021). In sugarcane plantation areas of Brazil, the Cd concentration for areas of high Cd levels was probably due to pollutants in phosphatic fertilizers.…”

“…In this study, to assess the potential bioavailability of heavy metals (R2) is used as an indicative of bioavailability of heavy metals to humans through sugarcane juice intake (Wang et al, 2020). The ratio (R2) of heavy metals in sugarcane juice samples (C juice) to soil samples (C s), expressed as: R2 = C juice ∕ Cs Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo):…”

“…Recently there has been growing evidence of decreased soil productivity as a result of long-term irrigated sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) monoculture joint with the intensification of irrigation and fertilization systems (Umrit et al, 2014;Ouda, 2020;Wu et al, 2020). Sugarcane monoculture is known to affect soil properties by continued additions of pesticides and organic and inorganic fertilizers leading to conditions that might affect soil physicochemical parameters and promotes solubility, bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals (da Silva et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2020). As a result, a series of soil quality degradation problems have appeared in irrigated sugarcane monoculture areas in Egypt, including heavy metal soil contamination and degradation of soil biological properties which is a major limiting factor affecting soil health.…”

“…Heavy metal soil contents in an agricultural ecosystem environment are relatively undegradable and are difficult to be removed through natural processes (da Silva et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2020;Jadoon et al, 2021). Therefore, the monitoring and assessment of the environmental quality of soils plays a significant role in restoring damaged ecosystems, protecting soil environmental quality, and developing a scientific basis for sustainable intensive agricultural systems (Lodhi et al, 2021;Qin et al, 2021).…”

“…Heavy metals have been identified to alter soil physical and chemical properties that affect the biological population, diversity, fertility, and soil health (Sahu and basti 2021). Excessive tilth, irrigation, fertilization and management practices that diminish organic matter and nutrients have also been recognised as primary factors contributing to the yield decline in sugarcane monoculture systems (Umrit et al, 2014;da Silva et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2018;Wang et al, 2020). With each other, these agricultural practices induce dilapidation of the soil chemical, physical and biological properties as evidenced by increased accumulation of heavy metals, decreased levels of SOM, lower cation exchange capacity and pH, increased bulk density, less microbial biomass activity and a build-up of detrimental soil microorganisms (Garside et al 1997b;Solanki et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2020).…”