ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED HEAVY METALS IN FOOD CROPS AND VEGETABLES IRRIGATED WITH INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER AND ASSOCIATED HEALTH RISK LEVL

Abstract

Accumulation of heavy metals in soil-crop system is the major problem in Pakistan especially around the all industrial estate of country. Health risk is major environmental problem rising from the heavy metals depositions in soil-crops system, in the "hatter industrial Estate , KPK, Pakistan", all the industries drain out their waste water in the surrounding agricultural fields and villages with out any proper treatment and farmers are using industrial waste water for the irrigation of crops and vegetables. In the present study, comparison of heavy metals(Cd,Cr, Pb and Ni) in industrial waste water and tube well water, soil, staple crops (wheat and maize) and vegetables (spinach and garlic) which were irrigated with two types of water (industrial wastewater and tube well water) in "Hatter industrial Estate, KPK, Pakistan" by using ICP-MS (Shimadzu model MY-17320003) was studied. Also calculated out biomobility factory of heavy metals form soil to crops and human health risk assessment. Statistical analysis showed that the heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb and Ni) concentration significantly (P>0.05) high in industrial wastewater, soil, crops and vegetable (irrigated with industrial wastewater) as compared to tube well water, soil, crops and vegetables (irrigated with tube well water) the value of health risk assessment >1 for Cd and Pb in crops and vegetables (irrigated with industrial wastewater). So, this study suggested a mindfulness movement amongst farmers of hatter industrial Estate (HIE) those are using industrial waste water for irrigation of soil and provision of well being measures and prosecution of safety rules and regulations.