Spatial distribution of heavy metals in soil, water, and vegetables of farms in Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran

Abstract

BackgroundHeavy metals are ubiquitous elsewhere in nature and their measurement in environment is necessary to develop health management strategies. In this study, we aimed to find out concentrations and spatial patterns of heavy metals in main farms of Sanandaj in Kurdistan, Iran.MethodsOver May to October 2012, six farms were selected to analyze concentrations and spatial patterns of several heavy metals, namely aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in their soil, irrigation water, and edible vegetables. Overall, 36 samples of soil and water and 72 samples of vegetables including coriander (Coriandrum sativum), dill (Anethum graveolens), radish (Raphanus sativus) root and radish leaf were collected. The concentrations of metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The spatial surfaces of heavy metals were created using geospatial information system.ResultsThe order of metals in soil was Al > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Cd while in water it was Cr > Co > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Al = As = Cd. The order of heavy metals in vegetables was Al > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > As > Cd. Totally, the minimum concentrations of Al, Cu, Pb, and Zn were found in radish root while the maximum of Al, Co, Cr, and Ni were found in radish leaf. The minimum concentrations of Cd and Cr and maximum concentrations of Cu and Zn were also deciphered in dill. Noteworthy, coriander had the minimum concentrations of Co and Ni. The concentrations of Cr and Pb in vegetables were more than maximum allowable limits of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).ConclusionIn summary, albeit the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and water samples were below FAO and the WHO standards, vegetables were contaminated by chromium and lead.

Elemental Profile of Heavy Metals in Garden cress, Coriander, Lettuce and Spinach, Commonly Cultivated in Kahrizak, South of Tehran- Iran

“…Similarly, high levels of Cd, Pb, Cu and Cr concentrations were reported in vegetable crops of leek, sweet basil, parsley, garden cress, and tarragon grown in the western city of Sanandaj, Iran (Maleki and Zarasvand 2008;Maleki et al 2014). Now it has become a common phenomenon that plants grown in polluted environments can accumulate metals at high concentrations causing a serious risk to human health when these foods are consumed (Wenzel and Jackwer 1999).…”

Variation saisonnière de la qualité physicochimique et microbiologique des eaux d’irrigation et des légumes du site maraîcher de Bawéra et risques sanitaires associés

“…Les échantillons d'eau collectés ont été ensuite transférés dans des bouteilles en verre stériles de 1 litre pour les analyses microbiologiques et dans des bouteilles en polyéthylène préalablement trempées dans une solution de HCl 0,01N et rincées à l'eau déionisée pour l'analyse des métaux lourds (Chary et al, 2008 (Koumolou et al, 2013). L'extraction des métaux lourds est basée sur la méthode décrite par Maleki et al (2014). Les métaux lourds ont été quantifiés grâce au Metalyser HM 3000 (Trace2O, Berkshire, Royaume-Uni) comme décrit par Djouaka et al (2016).…”

“…Ce constat suggère, comme le nombre de nombreux travaux (Khan et al, 2013;Koumolou et al, 2013;Maleki et al, 2014), que la contamination des légumes par les polluants est l'effet synergique de plusieurs sources (eau, environnement, sol, et le comportement anthropique etc.). On retient donc que du point de vue de la toxicité en métaux lourds, tous les légumes analysés sont contaminés.…”

Assessment of Environmental Quality of Two Industrial Cities in North-Central Nigeria Using Metal Pollution Indices

“…Humans are exposed to these metals in many ways through air, water, soil and most commonly agricultural crops [3]. The health effects of these metals have been known since ancient history [4]. More worrisomely, some relatively accessible metals like copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) had been reported to produce toxic effects beyond permissible concentrations [5].…”

“…More worrisomely, some relatively accessible metals like copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) had been reported to produce toxic effects beyond permissible concentrations [5]. Diminished intellectual capacity, gastrointestinal symptoms, coronary heart disease, variety of cancers, such as renal, skin, and bladder cancers, and even death have also been associated with chronic and/or acute exposures to heavy metals [4]. Growth retardation and associated physiological disorders from Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contaminated soils and irrigation water was also reported for plants [6].…”