Risk assessment of lead and cadmium in maize grains cultivated in soils irrigated with low-quality water in comparison with freshwater

Publication date: Available online 29 November 2019Source: Toxicology ReportsAuthor(s): Adel S. El-Hassanin, Magdy R. Samak, Gomaa N. Abdel-Rahman, Yahia H. Abu-Sree, Essam M. SalehAbstractMaize is the third important cereal crop after wheat and rice, especially in Egyptian villages. It is used in baking as a substitution component in wheat products and a main component in snacks for children. The target of this study was to estimate the risk assessment of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in maize grains cultivated in the agricultural soil irrigated by the contaminated water in comparison with that irrigated by freshwater. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in irrigation water, soils and maize grains collected from different sites in Egypt were determined using ICP-OES. The studied samples were collected from 5 agricultural sites irrigated with freshwater (Nile River water and groundwater) as well as 4 agricultural sites irrigated with low-quality water (contaminated by sewage and industrial wastewater). Results exhibited that the levels of Pb and Cd in soil and maize grains were significantly affected by their levels in irrigation water; where, the levels of Pb and Cd in soil and maize grains irrigated by low-quality water possessed the multiple concentrations in comparison with those irrigated by freshwater. Specific water sources such as Kafr-Dokhmais and Al-Nasiria sites, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate had the highest levels of metals in the samples of irrigation water, soil and mai...
Source: Toxicology Reports - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research