Study of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Wastewater, Soil and Plants

Abstract

Irrigation practices using the wastewater causes the severe soil contamination that results contaminated product to the consumer. This study is about the impacts of irrigation practices using wastewater on contamination of metals and vegetables like Radish, Cauliflower, Brinjal and Red Amaranth that is widely cultivated and consumed in Kolkata city. The water, vegetable and soil sample were collected from East Kolkata Wetland from two sites. The soil, water and vegetable were collected from 12,500 hectares of agricultural area which was analysed for various tests of chemical and microbiological. As well as metals accumulation in soil, water and metals accumulation at various positions of plants, leaves and vegetables available in our laboratory including metals like iron, zinc, coper, nickel, chromium, cadmium and arsenic. The data of microbiological and chemical properties of waters samples contamination shows pH, TDS, TSS, BOD, COD, TC, FC, nitrate, nitrite and sulphate all are within the permissible limits of Indian Standards. The different soil physical properties were also analysed such as pH, texture, total nitrogen, available Phosphorus and total organic carbon. Sequence of metals contained in soil, various parts of vegetables and wastewater are as < Cd < Cr < Ni < Pb < Cu < Zn < Fe. This study concludes that usage of wastewater for irrigation increases the contamination of metals Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd and As in the edible portion of all the four plants causes risk to the health potential for long term practices of agriculture. The study that adherence to standard for heavy metals contamination of soil and irrigation water dose not sure safe food. This study concludes that heavy metal contamination of water and soil are not advisable for safety of food.

Keywords:Agriculture, Wastewater, Contamination, Concentration