Heavy metals in soil and vegetables grown with municipal wastewater in Lahore

Abstract

Heavy metals contamination of fruits and vegetables as a consequence of wastewater irrigation is most important concern today. Present study measures heavy metals concentration (Cr, Cu and Pb) in soil and vegetable samples collected from agriculture area around four major drains of Lahore (Hudiara drain, BabuSabu drain, Chota Ravi drain and Kharak drain). Results show that concentration of Cu, Cr and Pb in soil samples were in compliance with WHO and EU standards, with an average of 2.221 + 1.184, 5.314 + 1.0511 and 3.864 + 1.6095 mg/kg respectively. Cu contentin vegetablesranged from 0.4-18.9 mg/Kg (average of 4.11 + 6.639 mg/kg), was within limits while Cr in Lady Finger, from Chota Ravi drain area, was 13.2 mg/Kg which is higher than permissible limit (2.4 mg/Kg). While Pb concentration in vegetables samples varied between 0.7 -8.1 mg/Kg (Mean 2.329 + 2.592 mg/kg), which was also higher than the standard (0.3 mg/Kg).Keywords: Heavy metals; Drains; Contamination; Soil; Vegetables Available online at www.banglajol.info Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 52(4), 331-336, 2017331-336, Jimoh et al., 2012Nazemi, 2012;Perveen et al., 2012;Tasrina et al., 2015; Delbari and Kulkarni, 2013;Najam et al., 2015). Vegetables are an important constituent of diet. Comparison of vegetables, fruits and other grain crops shows that heavy metals are largely accumulated in the edible parts of vegetables (Mapanda et al., 2005). Vegetables absorb and store high quantity of these harmful metals and become source of health problems when ingested by humans and animals (Alam et al., 2003;Sobukola et al., 2010). Elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, Co and Pb in food stuff are basis of diseases such as bone cancer, high prevalence of upper intestinal cancer, reproductive effects, hypertension and renal failure (Turkdogan et al., 2003). Long term exposure with these toxic elements, even at insignificant levels, causes noxious effects for humans and other living beings. Being nonbiodegradable in nature, persistent in environment and potential bioaccumulation, these metals lead to severe hazards once these enter the bodies of living organisms (Shahid et al., 2015a). Many reports suggest that the continued ingestion of food contaminated with heavy metals can damage liver, nervous, cardiovascular, kidney and/or causing cancers (Jarup, 2003). Extensive evidence of health hazards due to intake of vegetables grown in sewage irrigated water has been reported (Avci, 2012;Ghosh et al., 2012;Wang et al., 2012;Weldegebriel et al., 2012;Xue et al., 2012). Iqbal et al. (2016) carried out a study in Pakistan to assess the concentrations of heavy metals in irrigation water, soil and vegetables, their transfer factors and human health risk. Similar study was conducted by Khan et al. (2013) to evaluate heavy metals in and around Lahore district and analysis revealed that metal concentration were higher when compared with WHO applicable limits. Similarly, Hamid et al. (2016) studied heavy metal contamination of vegetables and soil of Ruhidrain area and t...

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