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Empirical tracking of heavy metal transfer from sewage-irrigated soils to spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and it’s bioaccumulation in human consumers in Sargodha, Pakistan
Abstract
Vegetables are crucial dietary sources of vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates, important for human health. Plants growing in soil were irrigated with sewage water are the health threats for human beings. Research was under taken to evaluate the metal contamination levels in soil, irrigation water, and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivated along Faisalabad and Lahore roads in Sargodha, Pakistan. The water, soil, and vegetable samples were collected from canal water (CW1, CW2) and water sites (SW1, SW2). Electrical conductivity and sodium absorption ratio levels were considerably higher while residual sodium carbonate values rose in sewage water samples showing poor water quality. Water type SW2 showed the highest levels of heavy metals especially copper, iron, zinc, manganese, cadmium, cobalt, lead, and molybdenum. Soil treated with sewage water had very high salt content, poor nutrient quality, and high metal concentrations than soil irrigated through canals. The assessment tools including Daily Intake of Metals (DIM) and Health Risk Index (HRI) show that sewage water caused harmful effects because of high contamination with heavy metals. The research shows heavy metal pollution needs control through better irrigation methods and water treatment plus strong regulatory oversight
