Effect of Sewage Water Irrigation on Accumulation of Metals in Soil and Wheat in Punjab, Pakistan

Zafar Iqbal Khan; Kafeel Ahmad; Sidrah Rehman; Asma Ashfaq; Naunain Mehmood; Ilker Ugulu; Yunus Dogan

doi:10.21743/pjaec/2019.06.08

Authors

Zafar Iqbal Khan Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Author
Kafeel Ahmad Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Author
Sidrah Rehman Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Author
Asma Ashfaq Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Author
Naunain Mehmood Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan Author
Ilker Ugulu Faculty of Education, Uşak University, Uşak, Turkey Author
Yunus Dogan Buca Faculty of Education, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21743/pjaec/2019.06.08

Keywords:

Triticum aestivum, Heavy metal, Soil, Sewage water, Contamination level, Health risk

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of potential toxic metals; cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in the wheat variety (Fsd-2008) irrigated by sewage water. Various indices were examined such as bioconcentration factor, enrichment factor and health risk index in order to better understand the transport and accumulation of metals through the food chain. Seeds of wheat variety were sown toward the end of October 2014 and flooded with different combinations of local sewage water and groundwater. Determination of metal concentration in soil and wheat samples was carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Analysis of mean metal concentration in soil that was irrigated by five different water treatments revealed that the mean concentration of Cd was less in the soil of treatment III, IV and V. Results also indicated that the mean concentrations of Cd, Cu and Cr increased and that of Ni and Pb decreased by sewage water irrigation