Heavy Metal Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars irrigated with Fly Ash-Treated Acid Mine Drainage

Abstract

In water-scant regions, the reuse of (un)treated acid mine drainage effluent (AMD) water for crop irrigation has turned into a prerequisite. The study assesses the levels of heavy metals, and health risk assessment in two potato crop cultivars, namely, Fianna and Lady rosetta (both determinate and indeterminate) when exposed to irrigation with different fly ash: acid mine drainage amelioration ratios. The study investigates the health risk assessment in the potato tissues namely, stem, tubers, new and old leaves of the potato cultivars. The treatments constituted a control, 50% FA: AMD, 75% FA: AMD ratio, and 100% AMD (untreated AMD). The results showed that the heavy metals of plants irrigated with AMD mixed with FA was significantly affected differently at harvest. In summary, the concentration of Cd was over the WHO acceptable standards in untreated acid mine drainage water. Fianna recorded 1.34 mg/kg while a notably decrease was observed in Lady rosetta with (1.01 mg/kg). In any case, FA was proven to significantly lessen the Cd particles in both FA-AMD ratios: Cd content was 0.98 mg/kg and 0.84 mg/kg in 50% FA: AMD treatment for Fianna and Lady rosetta separately, while the recommended maximum limit is 0.1 mg/kg. With the readings recorded, they are slightly high according to the CODEX general standard for food contaminants and toxins in food and feed (CODEX STAN 193-1995). Then again, in 75% FA: AMD ratio, the Cd concentration was 0.04 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg for Fianna and Lady rosetta exclusively. It is in this way obvious that FA adsorbed the Cd ions, and the two cultivars fulfill the CODEX guideline, nonetheless the potato crop irrigated with a 75% FA: AMD ratio can be consumed by humans without causing any detrimental effects.

The possible application of fly ash (FA) to ameliorate acid mine water (AMD) for irrigation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

“…This finding agrees with those of [ 19 , 20 , [22] , [23] , [24] ] where 3:1 FA:AMD ameliorated almost all the Fe ions in the acid mine drainage water. This conclusion on the other hand conflicts with the findings of [ 25 ], who reported that minor elements such as Fe, Ni, Cu, and Pb decreased significantly in all FA:AMD samples. The difference is that the concentration of Fe in treatment 4 (100 % AMD), exceeded the minimum standard limits as stated in the [ 54 ] of 300 μg/L in the present study.…”

“…It could be concluded that at low quantities of FA mixed with AMD, the Ni adsorption ability of FA was significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower compared to the Ni adsorption ability demonstrated by irrigation treatments not mixed with significantly large amounts of FA. This finding agrees with the conclusion of [ 25 , [77] , [78] , [79] ] who evaluated effects that FA had on the availability of HMs in AMD treated with FA and results revealed decreases in Co, Ni, Cu, and Pb in all FA:AMD treatments. Results of this study demonstrated that there was a significant difference of (P ≤ 0.001) observed on the concentration of Co in the flesh of potato tubers grown with irrigation using ameliorated and untreated acid mine drainage water.…”

“…It has been confirmed by Ref. [ 25 ] that higher levels of Ni, either in growth media or irrigation water, affect the uptake and translocation of macro-and micronutrients. Specifically, higher concentration of Ni tends to decrease the uptake of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese by some plant species, as stated by Refs.…”

“…1 (A) ). While an increase in temperature did not alter the pH of 100 % AMD treatment, that for FA-treated AMD (1:1 and 3:1) was significantly increased, which has implications on ion solubility and mobility [ 25 ].

Fig.

…”

Unlocking water potential in drylands: Quicklime and fly ash enhance soil microbiome structure, ecological networks and function in acid mine drainage water-irrigated agriculture

“…Elevated EC can also stress plant, causing productivity losses [ 36 ]. These findings are further supported by Raletsana et al [ 37 ], who noted 46% reduced potato yield with AMD water irrigation, while Choudhry et al [ 38 ] reported a 62% decrease rice yield in rice due to elevated acidity, EC, Fe, Mn, SO 4 2− , and diminished availability of P, K, and Zn in AMD-contaminated paddy field. Hence, the phytotoxic effects of AMD acidity and the contamination of agricultural soil and crops, and potential transfer of toxic HM into the food chain, underscore concerns over untreated AMD water agriculture [ 6 ].…”