Appraisal of Trace Element Accumulation and Human Health Risk from Consuming Field Mustard (Brassicacampestris Linn.) Grown on Soil Irrigated with Wastewater

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to determine the trace metal accumulations in Brassica campestris irrigated with three different water regimes (groundwater, canal water, and sugar mill water). The analysis was conducted by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer to evaluate the
concentration of minerals in the soil and in vegetables. The heavy metals investigated in this study were Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn, Ni, and Mn. Trace metal concentrations in soil samples ranged from 0.30 to 0.39, 0.14 to 0.30, 0.25 to 0.39, 1.47 to 3.98, 0.37 to 0.41, 0.8 to 8.78 and 0.36 to 0.36 mg/kg for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn and Mn, respectively. Among the three treatments, the mean concentrations of Fe and Zn were higher than other metal accumulations for all treatments. The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn and Mn in Brassica campestris ranged from 0.35 to 0.44, 0.32 to 0.89, 0.09 to 0.73, 1.93 to 3.02, 1.11 to 1.82, 0.36 to 0.43 and 0.37 to 0.40 mg/kg, respectively. Statistical analyses showed that the treatments have a non-significant effect (p>0.05) on concentrations of metals in Brassica campestris collected from three sites for Cd, Cr, Cu and Mn and significant effect on Fe, Zn, and Ni.