Abstract
Due ta scarcity of water, the use of sewage and industrial effluents for irrigating crops particularly vegetables and fodder crops in the vicinity of big cities of developing cauntries is increasing. On the other hand, there is a 8reat concern about the environmental hazards associated with the use of such contaminated water for irri8ation of food and fodder crops. Hence, a case stud y was undertaken to asses the effect of industrial effluents on heavy metal cantents of soils and vegetable crops grown in the vicinity af Peshawar city of Pakistan. Charsadda road was selected where Khazana sugar mill and many tanneries are situated and discharge its effluents inta irrigatian water channel. Industrial effluents, soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metal contents. Results showed that average values of heavy metals in industrial effluents were Ni (0.66 mg kg!’), Cd (0.06 mg kg!’), Cr (3.45 mg k8’), Cu (0.34 mg kg!’), Pb (0.32 mg k8’), Fe (1.18 mg kg!’), Zn (0.3 mg k8’! and Mn (0.89 mg kg!’). The metal contents of samples taken before mixing with effluents were much less than at the source and were higher afier mixing with effluents. Metal content was significantly different from canal water for Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe and Mn being higher in effluents than canal water. As regards soils, 274c samples were be yond safe limits in Ni, 73% in Cd, 644c in Cr, 100% in Cu, 364c in Pb, 73to in Zn and 100% in Mn. In case of vegetables, all the samples callected had higher levels of all the heavy metals in leaves as well as fruits for human consumption. The stud y concludes that the use of industrial waste water for irrigation has increased the contamination of heavy metals in edible portion of vegetables causing potential risks in the lang run from this practice.
M. J. Khan, ñ. U. Bhatti, , S. hussain, Wasiullah. (2007) Heavy metal contamination of soil and vegetables with industrial effluents from sugar mill and tanneries, The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 26, Issue 2.
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