scholarly journals Scenario of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soil and its management

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Chopra ◽  
Chakresh Pathak ◽  
G. Prasad

Soil is a complex structure and contains mainly five major components i.e. mineral matter, water, air, organic matter and living organisms. The quantity of these components in the soil does not remain the same but varies with the locality. Soil possesses not only a nucleus position for existence of living being but also ensures their future existence. Therefore, it is essential to make an adequate land management to maintain the quality of soil in both rural and urban soil. The presence of different kinds of heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Mn, Bi and Zn etc. in trace or in minimum level is a natural phenomenon but their enhanced level is an indicator of the degree of pollution load in that specific area. The precise knowledge of these kinds of heavy metals, their forms and their dependence on soil provides a genuine base for soil management. The heavy metals have potent cumulative properties and toxicity due to which they have a potential hazardous effect not only on crop plants but also on human health. The metal contaminants can be reduced by immobilization of contaminants using macrophytes and also by using genetically engineered microorganisms.

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 811 ◽  
Author(s):  
El-Sayed E. Mehana ◽  
Asmaa F. Khafaga ◽  
Samar S. Elblehi ◽  
Mohamed E. Abd El-Hack ◽  
Mohammed A.E. Naiel ◽  
...  

As a result of the global industrial revolution, contamination of the ecosystem by heavy metals has given rise to one of the most important ecological and organismic problems, particularly human, early developmental stages of fish and animal life. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish tissues can be influenced by several factors, including metal concentration, exposure time, method of metal ingestion and environmental conditions, such as water temperature. Upon recognizing the danger of contamination from heavy metals and the effects on the ecosystem that support life on earth, new ways of monitoring and controlling this pollution, besides the practical ones, had to be found. Diverse living organisms, such as insects, fish, planktons, livestock and bacteria can be used as bioindicators for monitoring the health of the natural ecosystem of the environment. Parasites have attracted intense interest from parasitic ecologists, because of the variety of different ways in which they respond to human activity contamination as prospective indices of environmental quality. Previous studies showed that fish intestinal helminths might consider potential bioindicators for heavy metal contamination in aquatic creatures. In particular, cestodes and acanthocephalans have an increased capacity to accumulate heavy metals, where, for example, metal concentrations in acanthocephalans were several thousand times higher than in host tissues. On the other hand, parasitic infestation in fish could induce significant damage to the physiologic and biochemical processes inside the fish body. It may encourage serious impairment to the physiologic and general health status of fish. Thus, this review aimed to highlight the role of heavy metal accumulation, fish histopathological signs and parasitic infestation in monitoring the ecosystem pollutions and their relationship with each other.


Author(s):  
Ashok K. Rathoure ◽  
J. Anuradha ◽  
R. Sanjeevi ◽  
Dushyant Singh Chauhan ◽  
Sandeep Tripathi

Heavy metal contamination in industrial effluents presents a serious threat to the environment and human health because of their toxicity, non-biodegradability, carcinogenicity, and bioaccumulation in living organisms. Recently, the preparation and application of iron oxides, especially magnetite nanoparticles, for metals removal have been investigated due to their nano size, magnetic separation, and the ease of synthesis, coating, and modification. However, magnetic nanoparticles lose some magnetization due to air oxidation. Magnetite nanoparticles coating with inorganic shell, like silica and carbon, have been reported and were capable of improving chemical stability. The effects of pH, contact time, and initial concentrations on the removal of heavy metals should be studied using nano-composites in water. In this chapter, the authors present a technical review on different nano-composites used for bioremediation and their limitations.


RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (111) ◽  
pp. 109862-109877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pranesha Prabhakaran ◽  
Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf ◽  
Wan Syaidatul Aqma

Heavy metal contamination is a global environmental issue as it poses a significant threat to public health, and exposure to metals above a certain threshold level can cause deleterious effects in all living organisms including microbes.


2001 ◽  
Vol 67 (11) ◽  
pp. 5335-5338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weon Bae ◽  
Rajesh K. Mehra ◽  
Ashok Mulchandani ◽  
Wilfred Chen

ABSTRACT Synthetic phytochelatins (ECs) are a new class of metal-binding peptides with a repetitive metal-binding motif, (Glu-Cys) n Gly, which were shown to bind heavy metals more effectively than metallothioneins. However, the limited uptake across the cell membrane is often the rate-limiting factor for the intracellular bioaccumulation of heavy metals by genetically engineered organisms expressing these metal-binding peptides. In this paper, two potential solutions were investigated to overcome this uptake limitation either by coexpressing an Hg2+ transport system with (Glu-Cys)20Gly (EC20) or by directly expressing EC20 on the cell surface. Both approaches were equally effective in increasing the bioaccumulation of Hg2+. Since the available transport systems are presently limited to only a few heavy metals, our results suggest that bioaccumulation by bacterial sorbents with surface-expressed metal-binding peptides may be useful as a universal strategy for the cleanup of heavy metal contamination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 478-482
Author(s):  
N. P. Setko ◽  
A. G. Setko ◽  
Ekaterina V. Bulycheva ◽  
A. V. Tyurin ◽  
E. Yu. Kalinina

Introduction. Changes in the body of children and adolescents aimed at adapting to environmental factors are determined by genetic polymorphism in xenobiotic biotransformation genes, determining the degree of susceptibility of the child’s body to pollutants, which is the basis of modern personalized preventive medicine when managing risks to the health of the child population under the influence of environmental factors. Material and methods. Trace elements, including heavy metals, lead and cadmium, were determined in the hair of 256 practically healthy teenagers by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Depending on the level of content of the latter, two groups of adolescents were formed to determine six genes of the cytochrome P-450 family. Group 1 consisted of adolescents whose cadmium lead content exceeded the average Russian indices. The second group included adolescents whose heavy metals were above the level of average Russian standards. Results. Studies have shown that in adolescents of the 1st group, compared with the data of adolescents of the 2nd group, an increase in the number of carriers of two mutant alleles at the locus rs 1048943 (gene CYP1A1) is 3.08 times, rs 464621 (gene CYP1A1) is 1. 8 times; locus rs 2069522 (CYP1A2 gene) 3.63 times; locus rs 1799853 (CYP2C9 * 2 gene) 4.5 times; locus rs 1057910 (gene CYP2C9 * 3) 3.8 times and locus rs 2279343 (gene CYP2B6) 4.25 times. Moreover, carriers of two normal alleles in adolescents of the first group at the locus rs 1048943 (gene CYP1A1) were 5.14 times; locus rs 2279343 (CYP2B6 gene) was 6.5 fold less than among adolescents of the 2nd group; and at the locus rs 464621 (gene CYP1A1), rs 2069522 (gene CYP1A2), rs 1799853 (gene CYP2C9 * 2), rs 1057910 (gene CYP2C9 * 3) there were no carriers of normal homozygotes. Conclusion. Group 1 adolescents with heavy metal contamination of the body are carriers significantly in a greater number of pathological mutations in the genes of the cytochrome P-450 detoxification system in comparison with data from group 2 adolescents.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (91) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
S. H. Korsun ◽  
N. I. Dovbash

The aim of the study was to establish changes in the physico-chemical and agrochemical characteristics of gray forest large-clay loamy soil, depending on the contamination of ecotopes by heavy metals. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. The results of the study of the soil of areas with an over-dimensioned content of heavy metals and the transformation of agrochemical characteristics of gray forest soil in the cultivation of corn for grain. It was established that under conditions of systematic application of mineral fertilizers in agrocenoses, an increase in the lead concentration to 100 mg/kg, cadmium to 2,0, zinc to 50 mg/kg in gray forest soil did not result in a decrease in the amount available forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium by plants, compared with the natural background. Concentration of lead in the amount of 1000 mg/kg, cadmium – 20, zinc – 500 mg/kg marked an increase in exchange and hydrolytic acidity and loss of humus.


Author(s):  
Sangeetha Annam ◽  
Anshu Singla

Abstract: Soil is a major and important natural resource, which not only supports human life but also furnish commodities for ecological and economic growth. Ecological risk has posed a serious threat to the ecosystem by the degradation of soil. The high-stress level of heavy metals like chromium, copper, cadmium, etc. produce ecological risks which include: decrease in the fertility of the soil; reduction in crop yield & degradation of metabolism of living beings, and hence ecological health. The ecological risk associated, demands the assessment of heavy metal stress levels in soils. As the rate of stress level of heavy metals is exponentially increasing in recent times, it is apparent to assess or predict heavy metal contamination in soil. The assessment will help the concerned authorities to take corrective as well as preventive measures to enhance the ecological and hence economic growth. This study reviews the efficient assessment models to predict soil heavy metal contamination.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Marina Burachevskaya ◽  
Saglara Mandzhieva ◽  
Tatiana Bauer ◽  
Tatiana Minkina ◽  
Vishnu Rajput ◽  
...  

The presence of heavy metals in the soil could impose serious problems on soil-plant systems due to the accumulation of heavy metals in plants. Even vital elements such as Cu and Zn have a toxic effect in the case of excessive intake by living organisms. The present work aimed to investigate the content of loosely bound (exchangeable, complexed, and specifically sorbed) compounds of Cu and Zn and their availability to spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum) in contaminated Haplic Chernozem soil under the conditions of a model experiment (five approximate permissible concentrations (APC) and 10 APC of metal). Changes in the bioavailability of the metals upon application of carbon sorbents were observed. An increase in loosely bound metal compounds has been shown under conditions of soil contamination with metals (up to 57% of the total content). The increase in the availability of Cu in the soil was mainly due to the formation of complexed metal forms with organic matter (up to 17%). The availability of Zn was found to be associated with an increase in exchangeable (up to 21%) and specifically sorbed compounds (up to 27%). Granular activated carbon (GAC) and biochar have high sorption properties. A decrease in the content of loosely bound compounds of metals was established, especially in the most mobile forms such as exchangeable and complexed forms. The introduction of sorbents into the soil opened up a new venue for binding heavy metals in situ, eventually leading to a decrease in their bioavailability. The inactivation of Cu and Zn in the soil upon the application of sorbents led to a decrease in metal absorption by spring barley. The highest efficiency of biochar application was established at a dose of 2.5% and 5% in soil contaminations of 5 APC and 10 APC of Cu or Zn. The efficiency of the use of sorbents was more influenced by the dose of application than by the type of sorbent. There was no significant difference between biochar and GAC. Stabilization and inactivation of metals may improve soil fertility and plant growth.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 684
Author(s):  
Hee Won Son ◽  
Sun Hee Shim ◽  
Haeseong Oh ◽  
Jung Hyun Choi

In this study, the concentrations and characteristics of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) contamination in sediment samples were investigated using aqua regia extraction and Tessier’s five-step sequential extraction. Based on the concentration of metals, the influence of the Hapcheon-Changnyeong weir on sediments in the Nakdong River was assessed. The origins of the contaminants, their bioavailability, and their mobility were determined using sequential extraction. Greater concentrations of heavy metals were found in samples collected closer to the weir. The largest proportion of Cu was identified in the residual fraction based on sequential extraction, whereas Zn was predominantly found in the reducible fraction. Iron-manganese in the reducible fraction of Zn has the potential to leach back to the water body. In addition, the combined concentration of fractions 1 and 2 of Cu comprised more than 20% of total amount that still has potential to affect the water quality. The results of this study were compared with existing sediment standards set out by the NIER (National Institute of Environmental Research), Canada, and US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines, as well as the risk assessment code (RAC). The concentrations of heavy metals exceeded the standards set by the Canadian guideline by up to four times in particular samples, highlighting the need for continual monitoring.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elijah Abakpa Adegbe ◽  
Oluwaseyi Oluwabukola Babajide ◽  
Lois Riyo Maina ◽  
Shola Elijah Adeniji

Abstract Background Heavy metal accumulation in the ecosystem constitutes a potential toxic effect which is hazardous to human health. Increasing environmental pollution has necessitated the use of cattle egrets to evaluate the levels of heavy metal contamination, to establish their use in biomonitoring of heavy metals and to provide data for monitoring pollution in the environment. Results The present study assessed the utilization of Bubulcus ibis in monitoring pollution in five abattoirs, namely Agege, Bariga, Kara, Itire and Idi-Araba, all situated in Lagos State. The concentration of five (5) heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was determined in the liver, muscle and feather of Bubulcus ibis using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The trend of metal accumulation was in the order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Ni for all the sampled tissues. The mean tissue concentrations of the metals were significantly different (p < 0.05) among the sites. The highest levels of metal concentration were reported in the liver in all the locations. Mean concentration of Cd in Kara (0.003 ± 0.00058) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those found at Agege (0.0013 ± 0.00058) and Idi-Araba (0.001 ± 0.001). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between the mean concentrations of Cu in Bariga (0.01 ± 0.001) and Idi-Araba (0.003 ± 0.001). Conclusion All the studied heavy metals were present in the liver, muscle and feathers of the cattle egrets. The contamination levels were ascertained from the study which indicated that cattle egrets are useful in biomonitoring studies and the generated data will serve as baseline data which could be compared with data from other locations for monitoring heavy metal pollution.


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