Evaluation of heavy metals uptake by wheat growing in sewage irrigated soil: relationship with heavy metal in soil and wheat grains.
, Zafar I. K., S. Iqbal., F. Batool, A. Kafeel, M. S. Elshikh, A. Al Sahli, M. El-Zaidy, H. Bashir, I. R. Noorka, M. Sher, A. Muneeb, A. I. Batool, S. Mahpara, M. Akhtar, N. Mehmood, H. A. Shad, Y. Dogan., H. Muqaddas, M. Ayub . 2017
Experimentation was carried out in Sahiwal,
Sargodha, Pakistan to evaluate the contamination
level in wheat variety (Millat-2011), irrigated with
different treatments of household waste water in a
Completely Randomized Design with three repetitions.
There were five treatments viz. T1 (100%
ground water), T2 (25% wastewater, 75% groundwater),
T3 (50% wastewater, 50% ground water), T4
(75% wastewater, 25% ground water), T5 (100%
wastewater). Analyzed parameters were heavy metal
concentration in wheat and soil, metal correlation between
food crop and soil, pollution load index, bioconcentration
factor, health risk index, daily-intake
of metals, and enrichment factor. Current results
showed that concentration of heavy metals and metalloids
in soil and grains increased due to supply of
waste water. Cr, Cd, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn showed
significantly positive correlation while Co showed
positive but non-significant correlation in all treatment
groups. Mn showed highest bio-concentration
factor and enrichment factor values while Cd
showed highest health risk index, daily metal intake
and pollution load index values. Level of metal toxicity
in humans could increase due to irrigation of
food crops with untreated waste water. Hence application
of waste water must be avoided or its proper
treatment before application to agricultural fields
must be done.
