Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of freshwater and wastewater irrigation on buildup of toxic elements in soil and maize crop

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Untreated wastewater is routinely used for agricultural activities in water-stressed regions, thereby causing severe ecological risks by various pollutants. Hence, management strategies are needed to cope with the environmental issues related to wastewater use in agriculture. This pot study evaluates the effect of mixing either freshwater (FW) or groundwater (GW) with sewage water (SW) on the buildup of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil and maize crop. Results revealed that SW of Vehari contains high levels of Cd (0.08 mg L−1) and Cr (2.3 mg L−1). Mixing of FW and GW with SW increased soil contents of As (22%) and decreased Cd (1%), Cu (1%), Fe (3%), Mn (9%), Ni (9%), Pb (10%), and Zn (4%) than SW “alone” treatment. Risk indices showed high-degree of soil-contamination and very-high ecological risks. Maize accumulated considerable concentrations of PTEs in roots and shoot with bioconcentration factor > 1 for Cd, Cu, and Pb and transfer factor > 1 for As, Fe, Mn, and Ni. Overall, mixed treatments increased plant contents of As (118%), Cu (7%), Mn (8%), Ni (55%), and Zn (1%), while decreased those of Cd (7%), Fe (5%), and Pb (1%) compared to SW “alone” treatments. Risk indices predicted possible carcinogenic risks to cow (CR 0.003 > 0.0001) and sheep (CR 0.0121 > 0.0001) due to consumption of maize fodder containing PTEs. Hence, to minimize possible environmental/health hazards, mixing of FW and GW with SW can be an effective strategy. However, the recommendation greatly depends on the composition of mixing waters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data, materials, and software application support their published claims and comply with field standards.

References

  • Alothman, Z. A., & Shahid, M. (2022). Recent advances in removal of toxic elements from water using MOFs: A critical review. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 15(12), 104319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104319

  • Anwar, H., Shahid, M., Niazi, N. K., Khalid, S., Tariq, T. Z., Ahmad, S., . . . & Abbas, G. (2021). Risk assessment of potentially toxic metal (loid) s in Vigna radiata L. under wastewater and freshwater irrigation. Chemosphere, 265, 129124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129124

  • Aquastat-FAO. (2022). https://www.fao.org/aquastat/statistics/query/results.html. Food and Agriculture Organization, Accessed June 20, 2022.

  • Bayuo, J., Rwiza, M., & Mtei, K. (2022). Response surface optimization and modeling in heavy metal removal from wastewater—A critical review. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(5), 351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09994-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Çağatay Çetinkaya, M., & Üstün, G. E. (2022). Monitoring and evaluation of the efficiency of a mixed textile-domestic wastewater treatment plant for 3 years. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(6), 430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10090-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO. (1992). Wastewater treatment and use in agriculture - FAO irrigation and drainage paper 47. Food and Agriculture Organization. http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/8638/1/RP_07946_wastewater_treatment.......pdf.

  • Iqbal, Z., Abbas, F., Ibrahim, M., Qureshi, T. I., Gul, M., & Mahmood, A. (2020). Human health risk assessment of heavy metals in raw milk of buffalo feeding at wastewater-irrigated agricultural farms in Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(23), 29567–29579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09256-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiku, M. A. S., Singha, A., Faruquee, M., Rahaman, M. A., Alam, M. A., & Ehsanullah, M. (2021). Toxic wastewater status for irrigation usage at Gazipur and Savar industrial vicinity of Bangladesh. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 41(4), 358–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2021.07.001

  • Kabata-Pendias, A. (2010). Trace Elements in Soils and Plants (4th ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/b10158

  • Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Alothman, Z. A., Al-Kahtani, A. A., Murtaza, B., & Dumat, C. (2023). Predicting chemical speciation of metals in soil using Visual Minteq. Soil Ecology Letters, 5(3), 220162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42832-022-0162-2

  • Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Dumat, C., Niazi, N. K., Bibi, I., Gul Bakhat, H. F. S., . . . & Javeed, H. M. R. (2017). Influence of groundwater and wastewater irrigation on lead accumulation in soil and vegetables: Implications for health risk assessment and phytoremediation. International Journal of Phytoremediation, 19(11), 1037–1046. https://doi.org/10.1080/15226514.2017.1319330

  • Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Natasha, I. B., Sarwar, T., Shah, A. H., & Niazi, N. K. (2018). A review of environmental contamination and health risk assessment of wastewater use for crop irrigation with a focus on low and high-income countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(5), 895. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15050895

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khalid, S., Shahid, M., Natasha, N., Alothman, Z. A., Al-Kahtani, A. A., & Murtaza, B. (2022). Plant physiological responses after fresh and sewage water irrigation: Plant health perspectives. Gesunde Pflanzen. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00756-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R., Parvaze, S., Huda, M. B., & Allaie, S. P. (2022). The changing water quality of lakes—A case study of Dal Lake. Kashmir Valley. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(3), 228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09869-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Latif, E. F. (2022). Applying novel methods in conventional activated sludge plants to treat low-strength wastewater. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(5), 323. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09968-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q.-G., Liu, G.-H., Qi, L., Wang, H.-C., Ye, Z.-F., & Zhao, Q.-L. (2022). Heavy metal-contained wastewater in China: Discharge, management and treatment. Science of the Total Environment, 808, 152091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152091

  • Nagra, M. A., Natasha, N., Bibi, I., Tariq, T. Z., Naz, R., Ansar, S., . . . & Dumat, C. (2022). Biowaste-based sorbents for arsenic removal from aqueous medium and risk assessment. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01402-w

  • Natasha, Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Murtaza, B., Anwar, H., Shah, A. H., . . . & Niazi, N. K. (2020). A critical analysis of wastewater use in agriculture and associated health risks in Pakistan. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00702-3

  • Natasha, N., Shahid, M., Bibi, I., Iqbal, J., Khalid, S., Murtaza, B., . . . & Arshad, M. (2022a). Zinc in soil-plant-human system: A data-analysis review. Science of the Total Environment, 808, 152024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152024

  • Natasha, N., Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Niazi, N. K., Murtaza, B., Ahmad, N., . . . & Abbas, G. (2021). Health risks of arsenic buildup in soil and food crops after wastewater irrigation. Science of the Total Environment, 772, 145266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145266

  • Natasha, N., Shahid, M., Murtaza, B., Bibi, I., Khalid, S., Al-Kahtani, A. A., . . . & Shaheen, S. M. (2022b). Accumulation pattern and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in selected wastewater-irrigated soils and plants in Vehari, Pakistan. Environmental Research, 214, 114033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114033

  • Nawaz, H., Anwar-ul-Haq, M., Akhtar, J., & Arfan, M. (2021). Cadmium, chromium, nickel and nitrate accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using wastewater irrigation and health risks assessment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 208, 111685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111685

  • Numa Pompilio, C.-G., Francisco, C.-S., Marco Tulio, F. d. M.-T., Sergio Samuel, S.-M., & Fernanda Elisa, G.-J. (2021). Heavy metals in blood, milk and cow's urine reared in irrigated areas with wastewater. Heliyon, 7(4), e06693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06693

  • Onchoke, K. K., Fateru, O. O., Friedfeld, R. B., & Weatherford, P. W. (2022). Evaluation and analysis of perlite and municipal wastewater sludge (biosolids) from three wastewater treatment plants in East Texas, USA. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(2), 121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09794-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarwar, T., Shahid, M., Khalid, S., Shah, A. H., Ahmad, N., Naeem, M. A., . . . & Bakhat, H. F. (2020). Quantification and risk assessment of heavy metal build-up in soil–plant system after irrigation with untreated city wastewater in Vehari, Pakistan. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 42(12), 4281–4297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00358-8

  • Shabbir, Z., Sardar, A., Shabbir, A., Abbas, G., Shamshad, S., Khalid, S., . . . & Shahid, M. (2020). Copper uptake, essentiality, toxicity, detoxification and risk assessment in soil-plant environment. Chemosphere, 259, 127436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127436

  • Shah, A. H., Shahid, M., Tahir, M., Natasha, B. I., Tariq, T. Z., … & Dumat, C. (2022). Risk assessment of trace element accumulation in soil and Brassica oleracea after wastewater irrigation. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01351-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shahid, M. (2021). Effect of soil amendments on trace element-mediated oxidative stress in plants: Meta-analysis and mechanistic interpretations. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 407, 124881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124881

  • Shahid, M., Khalid, M., Dumat, C., Khalid, S., Niazi, N. K., Imran, M., . . . & Tabassum, R. A. (2018a). Arsenic level and risk assessment of groundwater in Vehari, Punjab Province, Pakistan. Exposure and Health, 10, 229–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-017-0257-7

  • Shahid, M., Niazi, N. K., Dumat, C., Naidu, R., Khalid, S., Rahman, M. M., & Bibi, I. (2018b). A meta-analysis of the distribution, sources and health risks of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Pakistan. Environmental Pollution, 242(Part A), 307–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.06.083

  • Shaikh, I. N., & Ahammed, M. M. (2022). Quantity and quality characteristics of greywater from an Indian household. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(3), 191. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09820-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soleymani, S., Javan, S., & Naimabadi, A. (2022). Heavy metal concentrations and health risk assessment in urban soils of Neyshabur. Iran. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(3), 218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09724-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Usman, M., Murtaza, B., Natasha, N., Imran, M., Abbas, G., Amjad, M., . . . & Murtaza, G. (2022). Multivariate analysis of accumulation and critical risk analysis of potentially hazardous elements in forage crop. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194(2), 139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09799-8

Download references

Funding

Dr. M Shahid received grant from HEC-Pakistan sponsoring a project (20–4423/R&D/HEC/14/980). This work was supported by the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program (DSFP) at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Vehari, Pakistan

    Muhammad Shahid, Natasha Natasha, Sana Khalid & Behzad Murtaza

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdullah A. Al-Kahtani & Zeid A. ALOthman

  3. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 38040, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Irshad Bibi & Nabeel Khan Niazi

  4. Department of Botany, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Sub-Campus Vehari, Vehari, Pakistan

    Tasveer Zahra Tariq

Authors
  1. Muhammad Shahid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdullah A. Al-Kahtani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zeid A. ALOthman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Irshad Bibi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tasveer Zahra Tariq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Natasha Natasha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sana Khalid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Nabeel Khan Niazi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Behzad Murtaza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

NN and SK performed the research work and write-up of first draft; MS and BM performed conceptualization, formal analysis, writing original draft, and supervision; AAA, ZAA, IB, TZT, and NKN reviewed, edited, and improved the manuscript and also participated in writing and improving the project proposal.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muhammad Shahid.

Ethics declarations

Animal research

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent to publish

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 51 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shahid, M., Al-Kahtani, A.A., ALOthman, Z.A. et al. Effect of freshwater and wastewater irrigation on buildup of toxic elements in soil and maize crop. Environ Monit Assess 195, 438 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11034-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11034-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation