Bioavailability and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in popcorn kernel from sandy loam Ferric Luvisol amended with municipal solid waste compost

Abstract

Application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) to marginal soil enhances crop growth but could also serve as source of pollutants into agroecosystem. There is scanty report on bioavailability of potentially toxic element (PTE) and the health risk of consuming popcorn kernel harvested from field fertilized with MSWC. Field trial was carried out in 2017–2019 to evaluate bioavailability of PTEs in kernel of popcorn harvested from field fertilized with MSWC. The trial was conducted at the experimental field of North-West University, Mafikeng campus South Africa. The treatments comprised three rates of MSWC including 0 t/ha (unamended, control), 4 t/ha and 8 t/ha arranged in randomized complete block design and replicated four times. One seed of popcorn was sown at 20 × 70 cm spacing per hole of 3 cm depth in a 6 × 4.2 m plot size. Growth and yield data were collected at maturity. Ears were harvested at maturity and the kernels were dried to 12% moisture content. Air-dried kernels (50 g) samples were collected and analyzed for essential mineral nutrient and some heavy metal(loid)s using ICP-MS. Measured concentrations of these heavy metal(loid)s were then used to calculate the health risk for adults and children. The results showed that uptake concentration was in the order K+ > HPO42− > Mg+2 > Ca2+ > Fe2+ > Cr6+ > Zn2+ > Mn2+ > Cu2+(mg/kg). Uptake concentration of metalloids: Al and Pd was significantly higher in the unamended. Bioavailability of PTE was highest in unamended plots. The average daily intake of the PTEs was within the recommended permissible level. The risk index value for oral pathway was < 1 for both adult and children population. Amending Ferric Luvisol with 80 t/ha MSWC enhanced popcorn growth and, concentration of accumulated PTEs in kernels at this rate, cannot pose health risk to both adult and children population.

Heat Stress, Varietal Difference, and Soil Amendment Influence on Maize Grain Mineral Concentrations

“…Excess soil amendment did not increase grain yield or mineral concentrations [16]. When the amount of organic soil amendment was increased, Dada and Kutu [34] found that maize grain mineral concentrations decreased. In this study, the highest application of organic amendment under the PM amendment resulted in a similarly reduced mineral concentration in maize grain.…”

Nutritional Quality and Popability of Popcorn (Zea mays L. var. everta) in Response to Compost and NPK 20-7-3 Application under Dryland Condition of South Africa

“…A heap containing a mixture of the organic materials was prepared at a ratio of 5 : 4 : 2 : 3 (MSW:PM:CM:SM) on dry weight (kg) basis. The chemical composition of the sorted municipal solid waste prior to cocomposting is as reported by Dada and Kutu [ 25 ]. Thermophilic anaerobic heap method described by Kutu et al [ 26 ] was used for the decomposition process.…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Application of a Ferrocenyl Azo-Based Ligand as Ag+- Detector in an Aqueous System

“…Anthropogenic activities in industries, mining sites, refineries, refuse dumping and burning sites as well as farming, release innumerable contaminants into the atmosphere, ground and aquatic environment, threatening both biotic and abiotic ecosystems (Huang et al, 2016). Most contaminants are not biodegradable, reaching water sources, and causing ecological and human health threats (Dada and Kutu, 2022). Human and environmental contaminants are composed of all forms of ionic species, which have agglomerated into cationic and anionic contaminants, some of which are highly essential such as; Ca 2+ , K + , Ag + , Na + , Co 2+ , Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ and Mg 2+ but harmful at excessive exposure or ingestion to humans.…”