Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences (JEAS). Jabeen et al., 2020. Volume 22(1): 23-31
Open Access – Research Article
Heavy Metal Contamination in Vegetables and Soil Irrigated with Sewage Water and Associated Health Risks Assessment
Fariha Jabeen 1,*, Afifa Aslam 1, Muhammad Salman 2
1Â Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
2Â National Institute of Food Science & Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Abstract: The current study was carried out to investigate the impact of waste water on the quality of vegetables and soil according to the heavy metals in Faisalabad Pakistan. However, contamination of vegetables due to heavy metals causes potential health risk. For this purpose, samples each of water, soil and vegetables (edible portion & leaves) were collected from diverse locations around Faisalabad city. Waste water from Paharang Drain was being used as a source of irrigation in study areas. Therefore, the potential problem of contamination arise due to the effect of some heavy metals like manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) contents of various vegetables [spinach (Amaranthus caudatus), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) and tomato (Lycopersicon sculenetum)] produced Paharang Drain adjacent area, Faisalabad, Pakistan was checked by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). All the plant samples were used in the study are the basis of human nutrition in those areas. The farmers of the concerned areas were consecutively using sewage water to grow their vegetables that showed the maximum heavy metals contamination. The contamination exceeds from the Maximum Acceptable Limits, set out by WHO. The results of the study were detrimental according to human health. The tested vegetables were not safe for the use of human food, particularly those directly consumed by humans.
Keywords: Heavy metals, sewage water, WHO, Mn, Ni, Zn, DIM, HRI.
*Corresponding author: Fariha Jabeen: fariha.jabeen88@gmail.com
Cite this article as: Jabeen, F., A. Aslam and M. Salman. 2020. Heavy metal contamination in vegetables and soil irrigated with sewage water and health risks assessment. Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences 22(1):23- 31.
Copyright © Jabeen et al., 2020. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original author and source are appropriately cited and credited.