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The Impact of the Hyperacid Ijen Crater Lake. Part I: Concentrations of Elements in Crops and Soil

Environmental Geochemistry and Health volume 27, pages 409–418 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

In Asembagus (East Java, Indonesia) irrigation water is contaminated with effluent from the hyperacid Ijen Crater Lake resulting in a low pH and high levels of various elements. As a first step towards a risk assessment, locally produced food items (rice, maize, cassava leaf, cassava root, peanuts) were collected and concentrations of As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn were compared to samples from a reference area and with literature values. Further, concentrations in rice were compared to total soil concentrations in paddy fields. Compared to the reference area, food items produced in the contaminated area had increased levels of Cd, Co, Ni and Mn in particular, while levels of Mo were lower. In contrast, total soil concentrations of Cd and Mn in particular have decreased whereas especially Mo was increased. In combination with the observed soil acidification, it is likely that the bioavailable concentration of most elements in the contaminated soil is higher (except for Mo) due to an increased weathering rate and/or input via the contaminated irrigation water. In terms of human health, concentrations in foods were generally within normal literature values. However, it was observed that essential elements (in particular Fe) known for their inhibitory effects on e.g. Cd and Mn toxicity did not accumulate in crops whereas Cd and Mn did.

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Affiliations

  1. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Yalelaan 2, PO Box 80176, 3508, TD, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Alex Heikens & Willem Seinen

  2. Soegijapranata Catholic University (UNIKA), Jl. Pawiyatan Luhur IV/I, Bendang Duwur Semarang, 50234, Indonesia

    Budi Widianarko & Inge C. Dewi

  3. National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721, MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Jan L. M. De Boer

  4. European Commission, Joint Research Institute, Via E. Fermi 1, I-21020, Ispra (VA), Italy

    Kees van Leeuwen

Authors
  1. Alex Heikens
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  2. Budi Widianarko
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  3. Inge C. Dewi
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  4. Jan L. M. De Boer
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  5. Willem Seinen
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  6. Kees van Leeuwen
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Correspondence to Willem Seinen.

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Heikens, A., Widianarko, B., Dewi, I.C. et al. The Impact of the Hyperacid Ijen Crater Lake. Part I: Concentrations of Elements in Crops and Soil. Environ Geochem Health 27, 409–418 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-005-0827-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-005-0827-7

Key words

  • acid crater lakes
  • contamination
  • irrigation
  • metals
  • rice
  • soil