Abstract:This study detailed a complete research from Lead (Pb) content level to ecological and health risk to direct- and primary-sources apportionment arising from wheat and rice grains, in the Lihe River Watershed of the Taihu region, East China. Ecological and health risk assessment were based on the pollution index and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health risk assessment model. A three-stage quantitative analysis program based on Pb isotope analysis to determine the relative contributions of primary sou… Show more
“…Moreover, Cu is an essential oligo element that has been used in agriculture as fungicides and bactericides to protect plants (La Torre et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, a recent study demonstrated that fertilizer (nitrogen, potash, and organic) contributes to adding Pb in agricultural soils (Chen et al, 2021 ). Fig.…”
Intensive urban agriculture is expanding in Cameroon, which increases the risks of environmental pollution, particularly in the lowlands. This study assessed the seasonal characteristics of some potentially toxic elements and their ecological risks during the dry and wet seasons in urban agricultural soils in four lowlands in Yaoundé. The area and seasonal variation of some potentially toxic elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Ni) were evaluated using mixed-effects modeling. The pollution status of these elements in the soil was evaluated and interpreted using parameters such as the single pollution (SPI) and Nemerow composite pollution (NCPI) indices. In addition, the effect of these metals in the environment was assessed using the potential ecological risk index (PERI). The distribution of all the studied elements showed an area effect, while a seasonal effect was only noticeable for Cu. The concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn was higher than the recommended threshold values in one of the areas sampled, while Cr exceeded these threshold values in all areas during both seasons. Cr exhibited the highest SPI among all studied elements during the dry and wet seasons in all areas. Except for the NCPI in one area, where grade V (strong) soil pollution was recorded during the wet season, the soil from all the study areas exhibited a slight pollution level (grade III) with a mean NCPI between 1 and 2. The PERI value of all areas was below the reference values during both seasons, suggesting an overall low potential contamination risk of the soil biota. The results indicate that preventive action to limit the heavy metal contamination in the lowlands of Yaoundé needs to be taken, for instance, through the promotion of more sustainable use of agrochemicals like pesticides and mineral fertilizers.
“…Moreover, Cu is an essential oligo element that has been used in agriculture as fungicides and bactericides to protect plants (La Torre et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, a recent study demonstrated that fertilizer (nitrogen, potash, and organic) contributes to adding Pb in agricultural soils (Chen et al, 2021 ). Fig.…”
Intensive urban agriculture is expanding in Cameroon, which increases the risks of environmental pollution, particularly in the lowlands. This study assessed the seasonal characteristics of some potentially toxic elements and their ecological risks during the dry and wet seasons in urban agricultural soils in four lowlands in Yaoundé. The area and seasonal variation of some potentially toxic elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Ni) were evaluated using mixed-effects modeling. The pollution status of these elements in the soil was evaluated and interpreted using parameters such as the single pollution (SPI) and Nemerow composite pollution (NCPI) indices. In addition, the effect of these metals in the environment was assessed using the potential ecological risk index (PERI). The distribution of all the studied elements showed an area effect, while a seasonal effect was only noticeable for Cu. The concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn was higher than the recommended threshold values in one of the areas sampled, while Cr exceeded these threshold values in all areas during both seasons. Cr exhibited the highest SPI among all studied elements during the dry and wet seasons in all areas. Except for the NCPI in one area, where grade V (strong) soil pollution was recorded during the wet season, the soil from all the study areas exhibited a slight pollution level (grade III) with a mean NCPI between 1 and 2. The PERI value of all areas was below the reference values during both seasons, suggesting an overall low potential contamination risk of the soil biota. The results indicate that preventive action to limit the heavy metal contamination in the lowlands of Yaoundé needs to be taken, for instance, through the promotion of more sustainable use of agrochemicals like pesticides and mineral fertilizers.
“…In addition, the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, such as pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides, and the use of sewage sludge and untreated industrial wastewaters make this problem worse [43]. Increasing evidence shows that the cultivation of crops on contaminated land can potentially result in the transfer of Pb from soil to the edible part of a crop [42,44,45]. This condition may also threaten the health of animals and human beings through the food chain.…”
There are many anthropogenic activities that have caused the accumulation of potentially toxic metals (e.g., lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, arsenic, cobalt, and mercury) in the environment. Lead (Pb) is known as a very toxic and non-biodegradable element that has no metabolic function in living creatures. It can be easily taken up and transferred within plant tissues; consequently, it can easily enter the food chain, causing phytotoxicity, which in turn through different biochemical and enzymatic reactions, can result in severe threats to public health. After entering soil and sediments, Pb may be diffused among soil components and associated with them through different geochemical fractions, which determine the final fate of Pb in terms of bioavailability and uptake by plants. Metal bioavailability in soils is largely dependent on the soil and plant properties and interactions with other elements. In spite of the fact that there are numerous studies on the influence of heavy metals on public health but there are limited studies that consider the role of the soil-plant chain on the final fate of potentially toxic metals in respect to threat the public health. This manuscript defines a joint challenge between agricultural and medical sciences and shows that the soil (as the base of agriculture) affects human health in a variety of ways, with human health being linked to the health of the soil.
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