Field studies were conducted to investigate arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contamination in agricultural soils and wheat crops at two areas in Huaibei, China. Area A is in the proximity of Shuoli coal mine. In area B, three coal mines and a coal cleaning plant were distributed. The potential health risk of As, Cu, and Zn exposure to the local inhabitants through consumption of wheat grains was also estimated. The results showed that significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations of As, Cu, and Zn were found in soils collected from area B than in those from area A. Arsenic concentrations in wheat sampled from area A were negatively correlated with the distance from the coal mine (p<0.001). Concentrations of Cu and Zn in wheat seedlings and grains collected from area B were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in those collected from area A, with the exception of Zn in wheat seedlings. Concentrations of Cu and Zn in most wheat grain samples were above the permissible limits of Cu and Zn in edible plants set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. The hazard index of aggregate risk through consumption of wheat grains was 2.3-2.4 for rural inhabitants and 1.4-1.5 for urban inhabitants. The average intake of inorganic As for rural inhabitants in Huaibei was above 10 μg day(-1). These findings indicated that the inhabitants around the coal mine are experiencing a significant potential health risk due to the consumption of locally grown wheat.

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Hydroponic cultures were conducted to investigate the effects of phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and silicon (Si) on arsenic (As) accumulation and toxicity to wheat seedlings. The results showed that As concentrations in roots and shoots of wheat seedlings and arsenite [As(III)] in the nutrient solution were significantly decreased with increasing P concentrations. Si had no significant effect on As accumulation in wheat seedlings until the Si concentration was increased to 960 lmol L -1 . In the treatment with 960 lmol L -1 Si, both arsenate [As(V)] uptake and As(III) efflux were significantly decreased compared to the treatment without Si. The application of 480 and 960 lmol L -1 S resulted in a significant decrease in As concentrations in wheat shoots, but an increase in As accumulation in wheat roots. Both total As(III) efflux and the relative As(III) efflux were significantly decreased when the S concentration was 960 lmol L -1 . Different concentrations of P significantly increased the relative root elongation (RRE), total root length (TRL), root surface area (RSA), root volume (RV), and number of root tips (NRT), and decreased root average diameters (RAD). There were no significant effects of S on RRE, TRL, RSA, RV, RAD, and NRT of wheat seedlings under 15 lmol L -1 As(V). Silicon with concentration of 960 lmol L -1 significantly increased TRL and TRS of wheat seedlings when compared with the treatment without Si under 15 lmol L -1 As(V).