Abstract
This study was performed to determine the levels of eight heavy metals in irrigation well water and soil and to assess the suitability of some leafy green plants that are commonly cultivated in the Al-Kharj region, Saudi Arabia, for human consumption using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The mean concentrations of metals ranged from 0.0001 to 0.436 mg/L in well water and from 0.248 to 164.52 mg/kg in soil. The heavy metal concentrations showed significant differences among the different leafy green plants studied. Parsley (4.98 mg/kg) exhibited higher levels of Pb than other leafy green plants, whereas mallow (0.097 mg/kg) revealed greater amounts of Cd than other plants. All of the leafy green plants retained essential metals (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) more than the toxic metals (Pb and Cd). The levels of some of the metals in the leafy green plants were found to meet the FAO/WHO-recommended limits. The monitoring of heavy metals in leafy green plants must be continued because these plants are the main source of food for humans in many parts of the world and are considered to be bio-indicators for environmental pollution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AL-Jaboobi, M., Zouahri, A., Tijane, M., El Housni, A., Mennane, Z., Yachou, H., et al. (2014). Evaluation of heavy metals pollution in groundwater, soil and some vegetables irrigated with wastewater in the Skhirat region “Morocco”. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 5(3), 961–966.
Al Jassir, M. S., Shaker, A., & Khaliq, M. A. (2005). Deposition of heavy metals on green leafy vegetables sold on roadsides of Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 75, 1020–1027.
Amune, M., Christiana, O., & Samuel, K. (2012). Impact of mining and agriculture on heavy metal levels in environmental samples in Okehi local government area of Kogi State. International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences and Technology, 12(2), 66–77.
Aweng, E. R., Karimah, M., & Suhaimi, O. (2011). Heavy metals concentration of irrigation water, soils and fruit vegetables in Kota Bharu area, Kelantan, Malaysia. Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, 6(4), 463–470.
Awofolu, O. R. (2005). A survey of trace metals in vegetation, soil and lower animals along some selected major roads in metropolitan city of Lagos. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 105, 431–447.
Brar, M. S., Malhi, S. S., Singh, A. P., Arora, C. L., & Gill, K. S. (2000). Sewage water irrigation effects on some potentially toxic trace elements in soil and potato plants in northwestern India. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 80, 465–471.
Divrikli, U., Horzum, N., Soylak, M., & Elci, L. (2006). Trace heavy metal contents of some spices and herbal plants from western Anatolia, Turkey. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 41, 712–716.
Eaton, A. D., Franson, M. A. H., & American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation. (2005). Standard method for the examination of water and wastewater (21st ed.). Washington: American Public Health Association.
EU (European Union Standards) (2006). Commission regulation. Official Journal of European Union. NO.1881/2006 L364/5.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). (1985). Water quality for agriculture. Rome: FAO.
FAO/WHO (2001). Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme Codex Alimentarius Commission. Report of the Thirty Three Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants. Geneva, Switzerland, ALINORM 01/12A:1-289.
FAO/WHO (2007). Joint FAO/WHO Food Standard Programme Codex Alimentarius Commission. 13th session. Report of the thirty eight session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. Houston, United States of America, ALINORM 07/30/13.
Farooq, M., Farooq, A., & Rashid, U. (2008). Appraisal of heavy metal contents in different vegetables grown in the vicinity of an industrial area. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 40(5), 2099–2106.
Forthofer, R. N., & Lee, E. S. (1995). Introduction to biostatistics: a guide to design, analysis, and discovery. San Diego: Academic Press Inc.
Ghosh, R., Xalxo, R., & Ghosh, M. (2013). Estimation of heavy metal in vegetables from different market sites of tribal based Ranchi City through ICP-OES and to assess health risk. Current World Environment, 8(3), 435–444.
Information Office, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington. (1999). Saudi Arabia. Al-Kharj: Ancient roots Nourish Modern Center of Agroindustry. 16(2). http://www.saudiembassy.net/files/PDF/Publications/Magazine/1999-Summer/roots.htm Accessed 25 June 2015.
Kananke, T., Wansapala, J., & Gunaratne, A. (2014). Heavy metal contamination in green leafy vegetables collected from selected market sites of Piliyandala area, Colombo District, Sri Lanka. American Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2(5), 139–144.
Khanfar, A. R. (2008). Groundwater investigation in Bel-Ahmar, Assir, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 15, 289–296.
Muhammad, F., Farooq, A., & Umar, R. (2008). Appraisal of heavy metal contents in different vegetables grown in the vicinity of an industrial area. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 40(5), 2099–2106.
Presidency of Meteorology and Environment. (2001). Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard. KSA: Ambient Water Quality. PME.
Qui, X. X., Huang, D. F., Cai, S. X., Chen, F., Ren, Z. G., & Cai, Y. C. (2000). Investigation on vegetables pollution and pollution sources and its control in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Fujian J. Agric. Sci., 15, 16–21.
Rapheal, O., & Adebayo, K. S. (2011). Assessment of trace heavy metal contaminations of some selected vegetables irrigated with water from River Benue within Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State Nigeria. Advances in Applied Science Research, 2(5), 590–601.
Saudi Arabian Standards Organization. (1997). Maximum limits of contaminating metallic elements in foods. Riyadh: SASO.
Shakya, P. R., & Khwaounjoo, N. M. (2013). Heavy metal contamination in green leafy vegetables collected from different market sites of Kathmandu and their associated health risks. Scientific World, 11(11), 37–42.
Shuaibu, L. K., Yahaya, M., & Abdullahi, U. K. (2013). Heavy metal levels in selected green leafy vegetables obtained from Katsina central market, Katsina, Northwestern Nigeria. African Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry, 7(5), 179–183. doi:10.5897/AJPAC2013.0499.
Türkdoğan, M. K., Kilicel, F., Kara, K., Tuncer, I., & Uygan, I. (2002). Heavy metals in soil, vegetables and fruits in the endemic upper gastrointestinal cancer region of Turkey. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 13, 175–179.
Yadav, A., Yadav, P. K., & Shukla, D. N. (2013). Investigation of heavy metal status in soil and vegetables grown in urban area of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 3(9), 1–7.
Zabin, S. A., Foaad, M. A., & Al-Ghamdi, A. Y. (2008). Non-Carcinogenic risk assessment of heavy metals and fluoride in some water wells in the Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 14(6), 1306–1317.
Zhuang, P., Zou, B., Li, N. Y., & Li, Z. A. (2009). Heavy metal contamination in soils and food crops around Dabaoshan mine in Guangdong, China: implication for human health. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 31, 707–715.
Acknowledgments
This project was supported by Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdul Rahman Aldaj Chair for Local Community Development at Institute of Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Nasir for Researches & Consultancy Services, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Al-Hammad, B.A., Abd El-Salam, M.M. Evaluation of heavy metal pollution in water wells and soil using common leafy green plant indicators in the Al-Kharj region, Saudi Arabia. Environ Monit Assess 188, 324 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5331-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5331-2