Abstract
Since the beginning of this century, wastewater has been utilized for crop production in the Mexican Valley of Mezquital; however, few data are available for evaluating the level of heavy metal pollution in that region. Waters, soils and plants were sampled in different sites, representing three specific irrigation sources in the valley. Trace metals were determined in all samples. Total amount of most trace metals in raw municipal wastewater, and that of Ni, Cr, Pb and Zn in diluted water were quite high. Wastewater irrigation markedly increased the amounts of trace elements extracted from soils by 4M HNO3; the amounts of metals were proportional to the amount of wastewater applied. Copper, chromium, and lead concentrations in soils roughly paralleled their organic matter contents. A wide range in tissue concentration of metals was observed. Zinc was the most metal absorbed by alfalfa and oats. Levels of Ni and Pb in plants, and to some extent, those of Co and Cu, were increased by raw wastewater irrigation. Chromium and lead accumulations in alfalfa were well above the tolerance levels suggested by some workers and the high Co concentration found in this legume may be a health risk for animals and human beings.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allaway, W. H.: 1968, Advan. Agron. 20, 235.
Alberici, T. M., Sopper, W.E., Storm, G. L. and Yahner, R. H.: 1989, J. Environ. Qual. 18, 115.
Bradford, G. R., Page, A. L., Lund, L. J. and Olmestead, W.: 1975. J. Environ. Qual. 4, 123.
Cuadra, M.J.: 1981, Agricultural land irrigation with wastewater in the Mezquital Valley. pp. 217–248. In: D'ltri, F.M., Aguirre, M.J. and Athié N,M.: 1981, Municipal wastewater in Agriculture. Academic Press New York, N.Y.
Chaney, R.L.: 1983, Potential effect of waste constituents on the food chain. pp. 152–240. In: J.F. Parr et al (eds). Land Treatment of Hazardous wastes. Noyes Data Corp. Dark Ridge, N.Y.
Chang, A. C., Warneke J. E., Page, A. L. and Land L. J.: 1984, J. Environ. Qual. 13, 87.
García, Z.A.; Cajuste, L.J. and Cruz, D.J.: 1988. Mem. del XXI Congreso Nal. de la Soc. Mex. de la Ciencia del Suelo. p.78.
Heckman, J.R., Angle, J.S. and Chaney, R.L.: 1987. J. Environ. Qual. 16, 113.
Iskandar, I.K.: 1978, Overview of existing land treatment systems. pp. 193–200. In: H.L. McKim (ed) State of knowledge in land treatment of waste water, Intern. Symposium, Hanover, N.H. 20–25 Aug. 1978 U.S... Army Corps of Engineers, Hanover, N.H.
Johnson, R.D., Jones, R.L., Hinesley, T.D. and David, D.L.: 1974, Selected chemical characteristics of soils, forages, and drainage water from the sewage from serving Melbourne, Australia, U.S. Department of the Army, Corps of Engineering, Washington, D.C.
Juárez, M.: 1971, Efecto de los componentes de las aguas negras (Boro y ABS) en el desarrollo de la lechuga y el frijol bajo condiciones de invernadero. Tesis M.C. C.P., ENA Chapingo, Mexico.
Kabata-Pendias, A. and Pendias, H.: 1986a, Trace Elements in soils and plant. CRC. Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida. p. 11.
Kabata-Pendias, A. and Pendias, H.: 1986b, Trace elements in soils and plants. CRC. Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida. pp. 238–246.
Lindsay, W.L. and Norvell, W.A.: 1969, Development of a DTPA micronutrients soil test. Agron. Abstracts. p. 84.
Mascareño, C.F.: 1974, Estudio preliminar sobre contaminaciòn de los suelos y de la production agricola en el Distrito de Riego 03 por el use de aguas negras de la Ciudad de Mexico. Tesis Maestria en Ciencias, Colegio de Postgraduados, Chapingo, Mexico.
Mathis, B.J. and Cummings, T.F.: 1973, Journal WPCF 45, 1573.
Mattigod, S.V. and Page, A.L.: 1983, Assesment of metal pollution in soils. pp. 355–394. In J. Thornton (ed). Academic Press, London.
McKim, H.L. (ed): 1978. State of knowledge in land treatment of wastewater, Intern. Symposium. Hanover, N.H. U.S. Army Crops of Engineers. Hanover, N H.
Melsted, S. W.: 1973. Soil plant relationships (some practical considerations in waste management) pp. 121–128. In: Recycling municipal sludges and effluents on land. National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, Washington, D.C.
Méndez, T. and Guajardo, R.: 1985, Terra. Vol. 3, 3.
Méndez, M.H.: 1981, Land treatment: A viable solution for management of wastewater in the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico. In. “D'ltri, F.M. etal, 1981. Municipal wastewater in Agriculture” Academic Press, New York, N.Y.
Mendoza, H.M.: 1981. Land treatment: a viable solution for management of wastewater in the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico. pp. 163–180. In “D'ltri, F.M. et al, Aguirre, M. J. and Athie, N.M. 1981. Academic Press, New York, N.Y.
Page, A.L.: 1974, Fate and effects of trace elements in sewage sludge when applied to agricultural land. USEPA Rep. EPA-670/2-74-005 USEPA. Cincinnati, OH.
Rohde, G.: 1962, The effects of trace elements in the exhaustion of sewage-irrigated land. Volumen 581.
Schirado, T., Vergar, I., Schalscha, E.B. and Pratt, P.T.: 1985, Evidence for movement of heavy metals in soils irrigated with untreated waste water. J. Environ. Qual. 15, 9.
Wolnich, K.A., Fricke, F.L., Caper S.G., Braude G.L., Meyer, M. W. Stazger R.D. and Bonnin E.: 1983. J. Agric. Food Chem. 31, 1240.
U.S.E.P.A.(United States Environmental Protecion Agency): 1974, Methods for chemical analysis of water and wastes. Cincinnati OH. Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cajuste, L.J., Carrillo, R.G., Cota, E.G. et al. The distribution of metals from wastewater in the Mexican Valley of Mezquital. Water Air Soil Pollut 57, 763–771 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282940
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00282940