scholarly journals Assessment of metal(loid) contamination and genotoxicity of agricultural soils

Author(s):  
Vaneet Kumar ◽  
Sandip Singh ◽  
Avinash Nagpal

Abstract Soil, a connecting link between biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystem, receives different kinds of pollutants through various point and nonpoint sources. Among different sources of soil pollution, contaminated irrigation water is one of the most prominent sources affecting soils throughout the globe. The irrigation water (both surface and groundwater) are increasingly getting polluted with contaminants such as metal(loid)s due to various anthropogenic activities. The present study was conducted to analyze metal(loid) contents in agricultural soil samples (N = 24) collected from fields along the banks of rivers Beas and Sutlej flowing through Punjab state of India, using Wavelength Dispersive X-Ray Florescent (WDXRF) Spectroscopy. The soil samples were also analysed for their genotoxic potential using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. The rivers Beas and Sutlej are contaminated with municipal and industrial effluents in different parts of Punjab. The soil samples analyzed were found to have higher contents of Arsenic, Cobalt and Chromium when compared with reference values given by various international agencies. Pollution assessment using different indices like Index of geo-accumulation, Enrichment factor and Contamination factor revealed that the soil samples were highly polluted with cobalt and arsenic. The Allium cepa assay revealed that maximum genotoxicity was found in soil samples having higher contents of As and Co. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlation between the different metal(loid)s which indicated common sources of these metal(loid)s. Therefore, efforts must be taken to reduce the levels of these metal(loid)s in these agricultural soils.

Author(s):  
Sani Daniel Eneji ◽  
Matthew Chijioke Apeh ◽  
Enyojo Samson Okwute ◽  
Alowakennu Micheal ◽  
Kayode Ibrahim Fesomade

This study aims at determining the concentration of heavy metal contaminants in the soil around Dangote cement factory Kogi State, Nigeria. It also seeks to understand the relationship between the heavy metals and the level of concentration with respect to distance and direction as well as the ecological risk it poses. The monitoring and assessment of soil pollution have over the years become a very important area of study due to the significant threat it poses to the food web. A total of 33 soil samples were collected in the Northern, Eastern and Western axis within a radius of 4km of Dangote cement factory at a depth of 0-15cm using a stainless steel auger. The contamination factor indices for Cr and Cu show moderate pollution across all the samples collected from different axis at a different distance from the factory. Zn also pose a moderate pollution across the samples except for WK4 and NK4 where it is in a low level of contamination. The geo-accumulation indices for Pb and Cr show unpolluted to moderately polluted across all samples at different locations expect for sample location EK4. The results of the ecological risk assessment revealed that Cd poses the highest ecological risk of all the five heavy metals investigated.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Rani ◽  
Sudesh Chaudhary ◽  
Tripti Agarwal

Abstract The present study was conducted to assess heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils in the National Capital Region, Delhi. A total of 84 soil samples were collected from selected agricultural areas located near industries, national highways, state highways, Yamuna floodplain, residential complexes, and wastewater irrigated soils. Heavy metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), pH, and organic carbon (%) were analyzed in the collected soil samples. The average value of pH and organic carbon in the soil samples collected were 7.79±0.49 and 0.53±0.17 percent. Average concentrations of heavy metals in soils were found to be in the order of Fe> Al>Mn> Zn> Ni>Cr> Cu>Pb> Co> Cd with value as 14916.92 mg kg -1 , 13538.87 mg kg -1 , 277.16 mg kg -1 , 74.53 mg kg -1 , 35.34 mg kg -1 , 33.68 mg kg -1 , 22.94 mg kg -1 , 18.45 mg kg -1 , 1.88 mg kg -1 , and 0.92 mg kg -1 . A very high concentration of Fe (6640.09-32650.23 mg kg -1 ), Al (5631-27209.99 mg kg -1 ), Mn (73.8-735.72 mg kg -1 ), Zn (16.45-221.88 mg kg -1 ), Ni (7.63-192.63 mg kg -1 ), and Cr (9.65-127.21 mg kg -1 ) were recorded in agricultural soil samples. The average concentrations of Mn, Ni, and Zn in the soil samples were several times higher than their concentration in Indian natural background soils. A significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in nearly all the agricultural soil samples except for the samples collected nearby residential areas. The contamination factor has shown that most of the soil samples were moderately contaminated with Mn, Ni, Fe, and Cr and some soil samples were considerably to strongly contaminated with Cd, Zn, Pb, and Ni. Wastewater irrigated soils showed a moderate to a strong degree of accumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, and Zn).


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258166
Author(s):  
A. K. Shukla ◽  
S. K. Behera ◽  
R. Tripathi ◽  
C. Prakash ◽  
A. K. Nayak ◽  
...  

Understanding the spatial spreading patterns of plant-available sulphur (S) (AS) and plant-available micronutrients (available zinc (AZn), available iron (AFe), available copper (ACu), available manganese (AMn) and available boron (AB)) in soils, especially in coastal agricultural soils subjected to various natural and anthropogenic activities, is vital for sustainable crop production by adopting site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) strategies. We studied the spatial distribution patterns of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB in cultivated soils of coastal districts of India using geostatistical approaches. Altogether 39,097 soil samples from surface (0 to 15 cm depth) layers were gathered from farm lands of 68 coastal districts. The analysis of soil samples was carried out for soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB. Soil pH, EC and SOC varied from 3.70 to 9.90, 0.01 to 7.45 dS m-1 and 0.02 to 3.74%, respectively. The concentrations of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB varied widely in the study area with their corresponding mean values were 37.4±29.4, 1.50±1.53, 27.9±35.1, 2.14±1.74, 16.9±18.4 and 1.34±1.52 mg kg-1, respectively. The coefficient of variation values of analyzed soil parameters varied from 14.6 to 126%. The concentrations of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB were negatively and significantly correlated with soil pH and positively and significantly correlated with SOC. The geostatistical analysis indicated stable, Gaussian and exponential best-fit semivariogram models with moderate to strong spatial dependence for available nutrients. The generated spatial spreading maps revealed different distribution patterns for AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB. There were variations in spatial spreading patterns of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB in east- and west-coastal area. About 62, 35, 12, 0.4, 23 and 45% of the study area had deficiency of AS, AZn, AFe, ACu, AMn, and AB, respectively. The spatial spreading maps will be highly useful for SSNM in the cultivated coastal soils of the country. This study could also be used as a base for assessing spatial spreading patterns of soil parameters in cultivated coastal areas of other parts of the world.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 804-817
Author(s):  
Jyoti Rani ◽  
Tripti Agarwal ◽  
Sudesh Chaudhary

This study was conducted to assess heavy metals concentrations in agricultural soils in the National Capital Region, Delhi. A total of 84 soil samples were collected from selected agricultural areas located near industries, national highways, state highways, Yamuna floodplain, residential complexes, and wastewater irrigated soils. Heavy metal concentrations, pH, and organic carbon (%) were analyzed in the collected soil samples. The average value of pH, and organic carbon (%) in the soil samples were 7.79±0.49 and 0.53±0.17 percent respectively. Average concentrations of heavy metals (mg kg-1) in the agricultural soils were found in the order of Fe > Al > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Pb > Co > Cd with value as 14916.92, 13538.87, 277.16, 74.53, 35.34, 33.68, 22.94, 18.45, 1.88, and 0.92 . The concentrations of Zn, Ni, and Mn reported in the present study were several times higher than their concentration in Indian natural background soils. A significant potential ecological risk has been noticed in nearly all the agricultural soil samples except for the samples collected nearby residential areas. The contamination factor has shown that most of the soil samples were moderately contaminated with Mn, Ni, Fe, and Cr and some soil samples were considerably to strongly contaminated with Zn, Pb, Cd, and Ni. Wastewater irrigated soils showed a moderate to a strong degree of accumulation of Zn, Cd, and Ni.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-66
Author(s):  
A. N. Ogbaran ◽  
◽  
I. E. Joseph-Akwara ◽  

This research was carried out to evaluate the impact of dumpsite and farming methods (anthropogenic Activities) on wetland soil qualities. Soil samples were collected from three strategic locations in Irri and Uzere communities at Delta State of Nigeria, and a reference station (control) about 5 km away from the study site. The sampling was done at the end of the rainy season (September, 2020), when the flood water had started rescinding, at two soil depths (5 to 10 cm and 45 to 50 cm). The concentration of iron, nickel, copper and cadmium concentration of the soil samples were determined with the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), according to procedures approved by ASTM International. Results obtained from the chemical analysis revealed irregular concentration and distribution of the heavy metals within the studied area. Regardless of the sampling depth, the highest heavy metal concentrations were observed around the active dumpsite. Ranking order of the heavy metals’ concentrations in all the sampling locations was Fe ˃ Cu ˃ Ni ˃ Cd. It was observed from the results that the profile concentrations of the heavy metals increased with an increase in the soil depth. Using the contamination factor to assess the heavy metals contamination of the wetland, the results showed that the area ranged from moderate to considerable level of contamination, while pollution load index reveled that wetland soils were moderately polluted with the heavy metals. In terms of the soil pollution, the overall results revealed that area closed to the wastes dumpsite (site 1) was heavy polluted with the heavy metals


2021 ◽  
pp. 58-68
Author(s):  
C. E. Igwe ◽  
C. M. U. Ajero ◽  
A. A. Amaechi ◽  
P. O.` Nzenwa

Heavy metals (HM) have been a global concern for its toxic and detrimental effect on the environment especially when it exceeds the permissible limit through anthropogenic activities like kaolin mining. Kaolin mining has improved the economic wellbeing of the local people through employment and otherwise; and at the same time attached with environmental consequences that threatens the livelihood of the community members. This study was carried out to ascertain the concentrations of selected heavy metals in kaolin mined soils and water body and its pollution density using single pollution indices such as contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation (Igeo) and ecological risk factor (Er ). Soil sample were collected from three different kaolin mined sites labelled (A,B and C) also surface water samples were collected from upper and down streams of Iyi-ugbohoroAmaudara, both samples were digested and elemental analysis was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS UNICAM 919 model). The concentration of the metals in three different kaolin mined soil samples ranges from Pb(40.00, 52.00 and 55.09 mg/kg) Cr(45.01, 70.00 and 71.00 mg/kg) Ni( 32.10, 50.50 and 51.00 mg/kg) Cd( 2.16, 6.25 and 6.15 mg/kg) Co( 19.68, 57.06 and 56.00 mg/kg) Se(1.06, 0.50, and 1.00 mg/kg) Mn(0.001, 0.01 and 0.01 mg/kg) Hg( 2.01, 2.00 and 2.50 mg/kg) As( 1.07, 1.10 and 1.05 mg/kg) and Cu(33.01, 60.00 and 57.5 mg/kg). Results from single pollution indices used for the selected heavy metals from kaolin mined soil, samples (A,B and C) showed that Mn, As, Cr, Ni and Cu indicated low to moderate contamination factor while Cd, Se, Co and Hg indicated high to very high contamination factor in all the samples. The distribution trend of heavy metals concentrations in the upper and down streams of the river body during wet season, showed that there were significant difference between upper and down streams while dry season showed variations in significant differences between the upper and down streams of some of the heavy metals. The study therefore concludes that kaolin soils are contaminated with heavy metals as a result of kaolin deposit and its mining activities. The single pollution indices used for the study pointed out that Cd, Se, Co and Hg are very high in the kaolin soils. The surface waters of Iyi-ugbohoroAmaudara River at the study area are polluted with heavy metals as a result of kaolin mining activities in the area; more especially during wet season of the study. Consequently, these outcomes would pose a toxic effect to both fauna and flora and possibly threatens the aquatic lives and the local populace.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Jędryczka ◽  
Idalia Kasprzyk ◽  
Marek Korbas ◽  
Ewa Jajor ◽  
Joanna Kaczmarek

Abstract There has been a rapid, worldwide increase in oilseed rape production that has resulted in enormous intensification of oilseed rape cultivation, leading to tight rotations. This in turn, has caused an accumulation of pests as well as foliar and soil-borne diseases. Recently, clubroot has become one of the biggest concerns of oilseed rape growers. Clubroot is caused by the soil-borne protist Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin. The pathogen may be present in groundwater, lakes, and irrigation water used in sprinkling systems. It can be easily transmitted from one field to another not only by water, but also by soil particles and dust transmitted by wind and on machinery. The aim of our overall study was to check for P. brassicae infestation of Polish agricultural soils. This paper presents the 2012 results of a study performed along the Polish-Ukrainian border in two provinces: Lublin (Lubelskie Voivodeship) and the Carpathian Foothills (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), in south-east Poland. Monitoring was done in 11 counties, including nine rural and two municipal ones. In total, 40 samples were collected, out of which 36 were collected from fields located in rural areas and four from municipal areas, with two per municipal region. Each sample was collected at 8-10 sites per field, using a soil auger. The biotest to detect the presence of P. brassicae was done under greenhouse conditions using seedlings of the susceptible Brassicas: B. rapa ssp. pekinensis and the Polish variety of oilseed rape B. napus cv. Monolit. Susceptible plants grown in heavily infested soils produced galls on their roots. A county was regarded as free from the pathogen, if none of the bait plants became infected. The pathogen was found in three out of 40 fields monitored (7.5%) in the Carpathian Foothill region. The fields were located in two rural counties. The pathogen was not found in Lublin province, and was also not detected in any of the municipal counties. The detection with a biotest was fully confirmed by PCR-based molecular detection of P. brassicae DNA in soil samples.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Usman Isa Osu ◽  
Agbaji Edith Bolanle ◽  
Omenesa Hadiza

This study assesses the level of heavy metal in Soils within the vicinity of artisanal mining of Mica, Cassiterite and Tantalite in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Soil samples of Kama-otto and Kwotto artisanal mining were collected and analyzed using mass-plasma Atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES). Samples were also collected in Angwan-Mada, a non-artisanal mining environment, for comparison. Pollution assessment of soil samples using the following geochemical parameters such as contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and Enrichment factor (EF), Nemerow index method (IIN) and Geo-accumulating index (Igeo) were carried out. The results indicate an elevation in pollution status in the order of Kama-otto mining, Kwotto mining, Kama-otto, Kwotto and Angwan-mada. The concentrations of Cd, Cr and Mn were significant in the sampled areas (P < 0.05).  


Author(s):  
Aliyu Ibrahim Yaradua ◽  
Adamu Jibrin Alhassan ◽  
Abdullahi Nasir ◽  
Kabir Ibrahim Matazu ◽  
Aminu Usman ◽  
...  

This work contributes to the monitoring of Agricultural soil pollution in Katsina State, North western Nigeria by assessing the degree of heavy metal pollution in Agricultural soil samples. The study was conducted in the year 2017 within some catchment areas located within the 3 senatorial zones that constitute to make up the state (Katsina senatorial zone: Birchi, Dutsinma and Katsina; Daura senatorial zone: Daura, Ingawa and Zango; Funtua senatorial zone: Dabai, Funtua, Kafur, Malunfashi and Matazu).  Analysis for the concentration of these heavy metals; Cr, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn was conducted by the use of AAS (by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) method. . Several indices were used to assess the metal contamination levels in the Agricultural soil samples, namely; Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), Degree of Contamination (Cd) and Pollution Load Index (PLI). The result of this study has shown that generally among the heavy metals evaluated, the highest concentration was observed for Fe (range: 20.195-38.347 ppm), followed by Zn (range: 0.528-1.134 ppm), Pb (range: 0.256-0.627 ppm), Mn (range: 0.261-0.572 ppm) and Cr (range: 0.093-0.344 ppm). While Cd has the lowest concentration (range: 0.022-0.043 ppm). For all the site sampled the heavy metal Ni was below detection level (BDL). From the results of heavy metals I-geo values, according to Muller’s classification,  soil samples from Birchi, Daura, Dutsinma, Kafur and Zango were unpolluted (class 0) while soil samples from Dabai, Funtua, Ingawa, Katsina, Malunfashi and Matazu are moderately polluted (class 1). The result for the enrichment factor has shown that with the exception of the heavy metal Fe, which shows significant enrichment for all the sites sampled all the other heavy metals show deficiency to minimal enrichment. Also based on the contamination factors for all soil samples the heavy metal Fe has a CF values range of 1.2861-2.3240, indicating that the Agricultural soil samples are moderately contaminated with Fe. In contrast, the rest of the heavy metals exhibit low contamination in general. The value of PLI ranges from 0.2408 to 0.4935, indicating unpolluted to moderate pollution, with the sampling site for Katsina displaying the highest PLI value while the sampling site of Ingawa has the lowest PLI. The Eri values for all samples are all < 40, presenting low ecological risk.  The results suggest that the Agricultural soils samples from Katsina state has low contamination by the heavy metals evaluated.Key words: Agricultural soils, Heavy metals, Katsina state, Pollution load index, Contamination factor.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-14
Author(s):  
A.I. Mohammed ◽  
A.A. Ahmed ◽  
J.U. Jibrin

Heavy metal pollution is a global issue of concern which results from both biogenic and anthropogenic activities. Hence, an investigation of soil pollution is pertinent because of its potential threat to human health. The present study examined the concentrations, contamination and pollution load index cum ecological risk factor for some heavy metals in soil samples collected from Borno Express (BOEXP), Tashan Kano (TASKP) and Tashan Bama (TASBP) motor parks within Maiduguri, Borno state of Nigeria. The data obtained showed mean concentration range of 0.34 - 1.18 mg/kg, 0.04 - 0.15 mg/kg, 0.07 - 0.41 and 0.18 - 0.29 mg/kg for Zn, Cr, Cd and Cu respectively. Nonetheless, lead was not detected in any and all samples analyzed. The increasing order of concentrations in the soils followed: Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd, Cu > Cd > Zn > Cr and Cd > Zn > Cu > Cr for BOEXP, TASKP and TASBP motor parks respectively. Notwithstanding, the results showed lower concentrations to the allowable limits of World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, the contamination factor of cadmium in the TASKP fell within the (0.10 – 0.25) category, indicative of slight contamination whereas in TASBP, the calculated value 0.5125 was within (0.51 -0.75) category implying severe contamination. The other heavy metals analyzed showed contamination factor as well as pollution index values < 0.1 indicative of very slight contamination.Keywords: Borno Express, Tashan Kano, Tashan Bama, Motor Parks, Contamination Index.


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