Variability in plant trace element uptake across different crops, soil contamination levels and soil properties in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China

Abstract

This study investigated contamination status of eight trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni) in farmland soils and crops at 535 sites across the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China. Land use types of the sampling sites included vegetable patch, grain field and orchard. Our experimental results indicated all farmland soils were considered as trace element contamination based on the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index (NCPI > 1). However, 91.97% of the crop samples were uncontaminated according to the Chinese Risk Control Standard. Soils from the vegetable patch showed higher pollution level comparison with that from grain field and orchard. Health risks for both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were calculated through crop ingestion exposure pathway. Grain samples showed highest health risks, followed by melon and fruit, and vegetables. The health risks of crops were mainly driven by Cr and Cd. Crop consumption may pose risks for children but not adults. The source of trace element contamination in the different farmland soils varied and may be attributed to the different agricultural activities. Plant type had a greater influence on the trace element accumulation in crops compared with soil trace element contents and physicochemical properties.

Bacillus atrophaeus WZYH01 and Planococcus soli WZYH02 Improve Salt Tolerance of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Saline Soil

“…Xinjiang is one of the most important agricultural production areas in the arid and semiarid regions of China (Wang et al, 2012), but 31.1% of the existing arable land in Xinjiang has suffered soil salinization (Liang et al, 2021;. The Statistical Yearbook of Xinjiang (2015) has shown that the annual yields of these three crops (grain, vegetables, and fruits) are approximately 1.50 × 10 7 , 1.93 × 10 7 , and 0.96 × 10 7 tons, respectively (Liu W. G. et al, 2021). At present, many studies on screening indigenous PGPR have also been carried out in these crops.…”

Elemental Characterization of Medicinal Plants of the Sundarban: Health risk assessments and multivariate statistical analysis

“…Zinc has negative or poor correlations with every metal at A. o cinalis (except Co and Mn) whereas, at X. mekongensis, it has strong positive correlations with most metals. This indicates the complex correlation nature of the elements in different species of medicinal plants [49]. From Table S3, S4 and S5, it is also observed that for A. ilicifolius and A. o cinalis, As has a negative or poor correlation with the majority of the elements which may show the different sources of this metal in Sundarban mangrove soils and also in plants.…”

Air pollution from gas refinery through contamination with various elements disrupts semiarid Zagros oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) forests, Iran

“…The greater hurdle in the long run will come from pH changes affecting, in turn, the survivability of buried plant seeds. In addition, contaminating elements could enter the food chain, through herbaceous plants in growing seasons and potentially place human and other consumers' health at risk 33 . Therefore, to study more precisely the effects of pollution caused by the gas refinery on the food chain, it is recommended that herbaceous plants are grown in these forest ecosystems be studied further.…”