Bioaccumulation of heavy metals by leafy vegetables grown with industrial effluents: A review

Abstract

Vegetables are capable of taking up and accumulating heavy metals in their body. The concentrations of the metals increase as the soil available/background concentration increases as a result of human activities including discharge and dumping of industrial waste and effluents into environment. The aim of this review is to highlight the capability of the vegetables to take up and accumulate toxic heavy metals into their body as a result of industrial contami the water used for irrigation purpose and the impact of the metals on human and other organisms in the environment. For this review, available information on current publications, scientific journals, and articles were carefully used metals contaminated soil accumulate higher amounts of metals than those grown on uncontaminated soils, because in most cases, they absorb the metals through the root. Sometimes, metals may be incorporated with some essential elements required by plants in water and soil. Certain species classified as hyper accumulators are vegetables (mostly leafy vegetables like; spinach, lettuce, and cabbage. Some of the factors that affect metals uptake into plant ti includes; bioavailability, nature and type of the metal, environmental factors including pH and the plant itself, as some studies have shown some plants to have high uptake capacity than others. High concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu were reported for most instances, the background concentration of the heavy metals in the soil may not exceed the permissible limit, however, the vegetables have the ability to absorb and accumulate the metals even above the permissible limit. These heavy metals are toxic and pose serious effect on human health and other organisms in the environment. Conclusively, vegetables plays an important role in the body because they provides some essential nutrients to the body as such, any con can pose a serious health threat. Moreover, prolonged exposure and consumption of these contaminated vegetables may lead cancer and death.

Assessing the Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Cabbage Grown under Five Soil Amendments

“…These vegetables tend to absorb and accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals when cultivated in metalcontaminated soil compared to uncontaminated soil, primarily through their root systems. Specifically, certain Brassica species, such as cabbage, are known to hyper-accumulate heavy metals in their edible tissues [42].…”

Screening of zinc, copper and iron in lettuce and Chinese cabbage cultivated in Durban, South Africa, towards human health risk assessment

“…9 A number of studies have demonstrated that polluted environments with heavy metals may cause certain vegetables, including cabbage and lettuce, to accumulate high concentrations of these metals. [10][11][12][13] Given the potential toxicity, recalcitrant nature, and cumulative behaviour of heavy metals; the frequency of vegetable consumption; and safety and health concerns, such research is essential. Primary objectives of this study were to:…”