Skip to main content
Log in

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

  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • MF Abdel-Sabour AS Abdel-Haleem (1998) ArticleTitleAccumulation of heavy metals in two crop seeds due to soil contamination as determined by neutron activation analysis techniques J Environ Sci (China) 10 245–251

    Google Scholar 

  • BJ Alloway (1995) Soil processes and behaviour of metals BJ Alloway (Eds) Heavy Metals in Soils Chapman & Hall London, United Kingdom 11–37

    Google Scholar 

  • JM Anzano P. Gónzalez (2000) ArticleTitleDetermination of iron and copper in peanuts by flame atomic absorption spectrometry using acid digestion Microchem J 64 141–145 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0026-265X(99)00021-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CB Braungardt EP Achterberg F Elbaz-Poulichet NH. Morley (2003) ArticleTitleMetal geochemistry in a mine-polluted estuarine system in Spain Appl Geochem 18 1757–1771 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0883-2927(03)00079-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CS Chukwuma (1995) ArticleTitleEvaluating baseline data for copper, manganese, nickel and zinc in rice, yam, cassava and guinea grass from cultivated soils in Nigeria Agr Ecosyst Environ 53 47–61 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0167-8809(94)00554-R

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RW Dabeka AD McKenzie (1995) ArticleTitleSurvey of lead, cadmium, fluoride, nickel and cobalt in food composites and estimation of dietary intakes of these elements by Canadians J Assoc Off Anal Chem 78 IssueID4 897–909

    Google Scholar 

  • P Delmelle A. Bernard (1994) ArticleTitleGeochemistry, mineralogy, and chemical modelling of the acid crater lake of Kawah Ijen volcano, Indonesia Geochim Cosmochim Acta 58 2445–2460 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7037(94)90023-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P Delmelle A. Bernard (2000) ArticleTitleDownstream composition changes of acidic volcanic waters discharged into the Banyupahit stream, Ijen caldera, Indonsesia J Volcanol Geotherm Res 97 55–75 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0377-0273(99)00159-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MC Jung I Thornton (1996) ArticleTitleHeavy metal contamination of soils and plants in the vicinity of a lead–zinc mine, Korea Appl Geochem 11 53–59 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0883-2927(95)00075-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MC Jung I. Thornton (1997) ArticleTitleEnvironmental contamination and seasonal variation of metals in soils, plants and waters in the paddy fields around a Pb–Zn mine in Korea Sci Total Environ 198 105–121 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-9697(97)05434-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Kabata-Pendias H. Pendias (1984) Trace Elements in Soils and Plants CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida, USA 315

    Google Scholar 

  • RS Lavado CA Porcelli R Alvarez (2001) ArticleTitleNutrient and heavy metal concentration and distribution in corn, soybean and wheat as affected by different tillage systems in the Argentine Pampas Soil Tillage Res 62 55–60 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-1987(01)00216-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DG Lumsdon (1996) ArticleTitleModelling cadmium retention by soils and the effects of aluminium competition Appl Geochem 11 285–291 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0883-2927(95)00048-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MJ McLaughlin MJ Bell GC Wright GD Cozens (2000) ArticleTitleUptake and partitioning of cadmium by cultivars of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Plant Soil 222 51–58 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004771712840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MJ McLaughlin DR Parker JM Clarke (1999) ArticleTitleMetals and micronutrients – food safety issues Field Crop Res 60 143–163 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-4290(98)00137-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • AA Meharg MM Rahman (2003) ArticleTitleArsenic contamination of Bangladesh paddy field soils: implications for rice contribution to arsenic consumption Environ Sci Technol 37 229–234 Occurrence Handle10.1021/es0259842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CS Moon ZW Zhang S Shimbo T Watanabe DH Moon CU Lee BK Lee KD Ahn SH Lee M Ikeda (1995) ArticleTitleDietary intake of cadmium and lead among the general population in Korea Environ Res 71 46–54 Occurrence Handle10.1006/enrs.1995.1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KS Park NB Kim YS Kim KY Lee SK Chun YY Yoon (1994) ArticleTitleA survey of trace elements in fresh-water fish and rice along the Han river by neutron activation analysis Biol Trace Elem Res 42–45 229–237 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02917320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PG Reeves RL Chaney (2001) ArticleTitleMineral status of female rats affects the absorption and organ distribution of dietary cadmium derived from edible sunflower kernels (Helianthus annuus L.) Environ Res 85 215–225 Occurrence Handle10.1006/enrs.2000.4236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PG Reeves RL Chaney (2002) ArticleTitleNutritional status affects the absorption and whole-body and organ retention of cadmium in rats fed rice-based diets Environ Sci Technol 36 2684–2692 Occurrence Handle10.1021/es0158307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Roychowdhury H Tokunaga M Ando (2003) ArticleTitleSurvey of Arsenic and other heavy metals in food composits and drinking water and estimation of dietary intake by the villagers from an arsenic-affected area of West Bengal, India Sci Total Environ 308 15–35 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00612-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Schuhmacher JL Domingo JM Llobet J Corbella (1994) ArticleTitleCadmium, chromium, copper and zinc in rice and rice field soil from southern Catalonia, Spain Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 53 54–60 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00205138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S Shimbo ZW Zhang T Watanabe H Nakatsuka N Matsuda-Inoguchi K Higashikawa M Ikeda (2001) ArticleTitleCadmium and lead contents in rice and other cereal products in Japan in 1998–2000 Sci Total Environ 281 165–175 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00844-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S Suzuki (1988) Health ecology in Indonesia Gyosei Corporation Tokyo Japan

    Google Scholar 

  • CE Toro HA Das JJ Fardy Z Bin Hamzah RK Iyer N Sun Laiyan Leelhaphunt Y Muramatsu RM Parr IH Qureshi SM Resnizky S Surtipanti SA Tarafdar MBA Vasconcellos (1994) ArticleTitleToxic heavy metals and other trace elements in foodstuff␣from 12 different countries Biol Trace Elem Res 42–45 415–422

    Google Scholar 

  • G Tyler T Olsson (2001) ArticleTitlePlant uptake of major and minor mineral elements as influenced by soil acidity and liming Plant Soil 230 307–321 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1010314400976

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Vander Velde-Koerts (2000) Nitric Acid Digestion and ICP-MS Analysis of Biological Material and Food RIVM Bilthoven The Netherlands 41

    Google Scholar 

  • JC Varekamp E Thomas (1998) ArticleTitleVolcanic and anthropogenic contributions to global weathering budgets J Geochem Explor 62 149–159 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0375-6742(97)00064-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Watanabe S Shimbo CS Moon ZW Zhang M. Ikeda (1996) ArticleTitleCadmium contents in rice samples from various areas in the world Sci Total Environ 184 191–196 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0048-9697(96)05100-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • T Watanabe ZW Zhang JB Qu WP Gao ZK Jian S Shimbo H Nakatsuka N Matsuda-Inoguchi K Higashikawa M Ikeda (2000) ArticleTitleBackground lead and cadmium exposure of adult women in Xian City and two farming villages in Shaanxi Province, China Sci Total Environ 247 1–13 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-9697(99)00416-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO 1981. Manganese (EHC no.17). Geneva, Switzerland

  • WHO 1988. Vanadium (EHC no.81). Geneva, Switzerland

  • WHO 1991. Nickel (EHC no.108). Geneva, Switzerland

  • WHO 1992. Cadmium (EHC no. 134). WHO, Geneva, Switzerland

  • WHO 1995. Inorganic Lead (EHC no.165), Geneva, Switzerland

  • WHO 1998a. Boron (EHC no. 204). Geneva, Switzerland

  • WHO 1998b. Copper (EHC no. 200). Geneva, Switzerland

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameWHO (2001) Draft guideline level for Cadmium/Proposed draft maximum levels for Cadmium Switzerland Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • ZW Zhang T Watanabe S Shimbo K Higashikawa M Ikeda (1998) ArticleTitleLead and cadmium contents in cereals and pulses in north–eastern China Sci Total Environ 220 137–145 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-9697(98)00252-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Willem Seinen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

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

Key words

Navigation