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An analysis of bioaccumulation, phytotranslocation, and health risk potential of soil cadmium released from waste leachate on a calcareous–semiarid transect

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Abstract

The contamination of cropland with cadmium (Cd) induced by anthropogenic activities is a serious challenge to environmental safety and human well-being. The current research assessed the range of Cd accumulation, uptake, mobility, translocation, and health risk in a wheat–soil system in leachate-affected and control soils. The findings revealed that the entry of leachate into the soil caused severe Cd accumulation in the soil, increased enrichment factor, and ecological risk by 2.7–3 times versus the control. The mean concentration of Cd accumulation in wheat plant was as roots (1.21 mg kg−1) ≫ stems (0.19 mg kg−1) > grains (0.12 mg kg−1). This implies that the primary organs of wheat vary in their capability of absorption, accumulation, and translocation of Cd. Moreover, Cd accumulation in different parts of wheat is regulated by available Cd, Fe2O3, Al2O3, salinity, and organic matter of the soils. Except for the children’s age group, the hazard quotient value was < 1 for the other population groups, indicating a low Cd risk of non-cancerous diseases caused by wheat consumption. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk of Cd was in the low to very low range (1.00E−4 to 1.00E−6), with the highest and lowest risk calculated for children and adult men, respectively. The findings can contribute to wheat management and food security in Cd-polluted cropland.

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Acknowledgements

The authors have a lot of thanks to Urmia University, Urmia, I.R. Iran, for the support of this work.

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Correspondence to S. Rezapour.

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Editorial responsibility: Lifeng Yin.

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Rezapour, S., Siavash Moghaddam, S., Jalil, H.M. et al. An analysis of bioaccumulation, phytotranslocation, and health risk potential of soil cadmium released from waste leachate on a calcareous–semiarid transect. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 5957–5968 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03777-2

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