Bioaccumulation and Tolerance Indices of Cadmium in Wheat Plants Grown in Cadmium-Spiked Soil: Health Risk Assessment

Farmers use wastewater for irrigation in many developing countries, for example Bangladesh, India, China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam because they have limited access to clean water. This study explored cadmium (Cd) bioaccumulation in two spring wheat cultivars (cv. Mustang and Lancer), which were grown in different concentrations of Cd (0,1, 2, 4, and 8 mg kg−1) in agricultural soils. The half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were 4.21 ± 0.29 and 4.02 ± 0.95, respectively, whereas the maximum health risk index (HRI) was 3.85 ± 0.049 and 5.33 ± 0.271, respectively, for Mustang and Lancer. In other words, the malondialdehyde content increased significantly in Mustang (around five-fold) and Lancer (around four-fold) compared with the control treatment. Results revealed that Cd content was well above the acceptable limit (HRI >1) in the two cultivars when exposed to different levels of Cd stress. The tolerant cultivar (Mustang) has potential to chelate Cd in the nonedible parts of plants in variable fractions and can be used efficiently to improve growth and macro- and micro-nutrients content while reducing Cd concentration in plants in Cd-contaminated soil. It can also diminish the HRI, which may help to protect humans from Cd risks. The two cultivars’ nutrient availability and sorption capacity significantly shape their survival and adaptability under Cd stress. Based on what is documented in the current study, we can conclude that Mustang is more tolerant and poses fewer health hazards to people than Lancer because of its capacity to maintain grain macro- and micro-nutrients under Cd stress.

Trace Metal Accumulation in Rice Variety Kainat Irrigated with Canal Water

Due to the rapid increase in industrial and urban areas, environmental pollution is increasing worldwide, causing unwanted changes in the air, water, and soil at biological, physical, and chemical levels, ultimately causing negative effects for living things. This work was performed in Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan, and examined and measured heavy metal levels in various plant parts of the rice (Oryza sativa) variety Kainat (roots, shoots, and grains) with results been set in relation to the soil around the root area. The samples were taken from five different sites. The mean level of trace metals (mg/kg) in grains was soil-dependent and varied from cadmium (Cd) (2.49–5.52), zinc (Zn) (5.8–10.78), copper (Cu) (4.82–7.85), cobalt (Co) (1.48–6.52), iron (Fe) (8.68–14.73), manganese (Mn) (6.87–13.93), and nickel (Ni) (2.3–8.34). Excluding Cd, the absorption of all metals under inspection was recorded within permissible limits, as recommended by the FAO and WHO. The pollution load index for Cd was highest at all sites. The enrichment coefficient of Co, Cd, and Cu were greater. The bioaccumulation factor at all studied sites was present, in order: Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Fe ˃ Mn ˃ Co ˃ Ni ˃ Cd. The translocation factor was present at five different sites: Mn ˃ Fe ˃ Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Co ˃ Cd ˃ Ni. The health risk index of all inspected metals was lower than 1 and was within safe limits. The higher pollution of Cd suggested maintenance of rice crop is recommended, decreasing health risks in humans.

Levels of Heavy Metals in Soil, Water and Vegetables around Industrial area in Bauchi, Northeastern Nigeria

This study examined the levels of heavy metals in soil, water, and vegetables (amaranthus, hibiscussabdariffa, and allium cepa leaves) around the industrial area Bauchi, Northeastern Nigeria. The composite samples of soil, water, and vegetables were collected and determine the level of heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The level of the heavy metals decreased in the order of Mn > Zn > Pb > Cd, Pb > Zn > Mn > Cd, and Mn > Zn > Mn > Cd in the soil, water, and vegetables respectively. Among the vegetables, amaranthus had the highest heavy metals level followed by allium cepa leaves and hibiscus sabdariffa. The levels of heavy metals obtained were below the tolerance level recommended by the world health organization (WHO). The bio-concentration factors of the heavy metals for the studied samples were below one except Zn in amaranthus. The daily intake of metals for Mn was found to be the highest in amaranthus for children and estimated to be 1.149 mg/person/day. Health risk index of Zn for amaranthus and allium cepa leaves for children and Pb for amaranthus, hibiscus sabdariffa and allium cepa leaves for both children and adults were above 1, except in hibiscus sabdariffa for adults, signifying provable of health risks for the consumption of the vegetables in the study area. Therefore, the consumption of these vegetables as food could pose a health hazard, and regular monitoring is recommended to prevent metal accumulation with their associated health implications in the consuming public.

Human Health Risks Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Oreochromis niloticus from a Tropical Reservoir

This study evaluated the human health risks of Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr, Co and Ni in Oreochromis niloticus inhabiting Agodi reservoir in Ibadan, Nigeria. The metals’ concentrations were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of consumers from the intake of metals in the fish was evaluated by Health Risk Index (HRI), Health quotient (HQ) Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Target cancer risk (TR). The metal concentrations in the fish were below the recommended limit by Environmental Protection Agencies. HRI and HQ of each examined metal was greater than one, indicating that there was potential noncarcinogenic health risk associated with the consumption of the fish. However, the THQ and TR were less than one. This indicated that Oreochromis niloticus will not pose any immediate carcinogenic threat to its consumers. It is therefore recommended that only eco-friendly activities should be permitted in/around aquatic ecosystems especially Agodi reservoir in order to keep contaminants below safety limit.

Transfer of heavy metals to leafy vegetables in Gazipur textile area

Heavy metal pollution of soils is a major concern today because contamination of food chain considered as one of the major environmental pathways of human exposure leading to potential health risk.A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the transfer of Zn, Cu, Ni, Fe, Cd, Cr, Pb and Mn from non-contaminated and contaminated soils to jute leaves vegetable plant and to evaluate their associated health risk in the local population.The mean concentration of the heavy metals in jute leaves vegetable plants followed a decreasing order of Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Cr>Pb>Cd>Ni. Among the all heavy metals the highest transfer factor (TF) values was found for Cu (77.50-34.95) and the lowest TF value was observed for Ni(0-0.001) in jute leaves vegetables plant. The daily intake of metals (DIM) for a person through ingestion of jute leaves were in order of Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cd. The values of health risk index (HRI) for the heavy metals were less than 1, therefore, no significant health risk is anticipated for the local consumers through ingestion of jute leaves. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(3), 155-164, 2021

Implementation of an Integrated Health Risk Assessment Coupled with Spatial Interpolation and Source Apportionment: A Case Study of Soil Heavy Metals, China

Soil heavy metal contaminated sites with multiple sources of pollution have caused worldwide public concern. However, the lack of correlation of risk assessment between source identification of heavy metal led to unclear direction of source governance. A methodology was established by combining source apportionment of human health risks with ecological enrichment to characterize source-identified risks of heavy metals based on Ordinary kriging interplotation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were used to identify and classify potential sources of heavy metals synthetically. The integrated results were incorporated into the health risk model to evaluate potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk of soil heavy metals. A case study was conducted in Suzhou city of China. The results showed that concentrations of Cd and Hg were highly above the background values, accounting for percentages of 239.6% and 415.9% above background values, respectively. The source contributed human health risk index of As contributed 76.9% to non-carcinogenic risk by pollutant sources of agriculture activities. The Non-cancer health risk index for children and adults was 1.08 and 1.00 respectively. The cancer health risk was 3.67E-03 for children and 3.97E-04 for adults. Cr originated from indutriy activities, accounting for 29.5% of total heavy metals, and constituted the largest carcinogenic impact on the population. This study provided a new insight for the treatment of mutil-sources of soil heavy metal pollution and also some reference value for the improvement of the risk assessment system.

Human Health Risk Assessment of Crude Oil Polluted Soil, Surface & Groundwater Sources in Emohua, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the human health risk associated with a crude oil spill site in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Niger Delta. The Total Content and Fraction’s approaches were adopted to assess the human health risk. Total Content approach was carried out by comparing the concentration of various contaminants in the environmental media studied with the Intervention Values prescribed while the Fractions approach was carried out using RBCA Toolkit for Chemical Releases version 2.6. The results indicate that concentration indices for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) were greater than the acceptable limit of 1.0 for both the maximum and mean concentrations in soil and groundwater, indicating unacceptable risk at this site. The result from the Fraction’s approach showed that carcinogenic risks are identified for the site through the soil and grounwater exposure pathways as the Total Risk Values for soil (1.7 x10-3) and groundwater (5.6 x 10-1) are higher than the target risk of 1.0 x 10-5 while toxic effects risks are identified for all pathways in the site with Total Health Risk Index for all four pathways greater than the applicable limit of 1.0. Ingestion of groundwater for carcinogenic risk with risk value 5.6 x 10-1 and inhalation of indoor air for non-carcinogenic risk Health Risk Index of 1.0 x104 are identified as the major contributing exposure pathways at this study site. It was therefore concluded that the study site poses unacceptable risk to human health and needs immediate intervention.

Persistence, dissipation and health risk assessment of combi-product profenofos and cypermethrin in/on sapota under sub-tropical agro-climatic conditions in India

Sapota, a prominent and economically important fruit crop of India is susceptible to several species of insect and mite pests. Several pesticides formulations are used to control the pest damage in sapota. The present investigation was aimed to study the dissipation and persistence behaviour of combi-product profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% (44EC) at the standard dose (SD) (1162 g a.i. ha-1+106 g a.i. ha-1) and double to standard dose (2×SD) (2324 g a.i. ha-1+212 g a.i. ha-1) in/on sapota under tropical agro-climatic conditions of South Gujarat in India. Prior to quantitative analysis of pesticide residue on Gas chromatography with electron captured detector (GC-ECD), the modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) based method was validated on its accuracy, precision, linearity and sensitivity. Profenofos persisted in sapota up to 30 days with the half-lives of 5.65 and 7.34 days at SD and 2×SD, respectively. Cypermethrin dissipated at a rapid pace and was below quantitation limit (BQL) on 7 days at either dose of application; the half-life values recorded were 3.27 and 4.43 days at SD and 2×SD, respectively. This is the first case study that reflects 14 days as a waiting period after the last spray of combi-product (44EC) at standard dose facilitates the residue-free sapota fruits. Further, the health risk index (HRI<1) and Health Index (HI %< 100%) indicates that the application of combi-product profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% (44EC) at standard dose could not pose any health risk to Indian consumers.