Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of vegetables grown in old mining area; a case study: Banat County, Romania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study is to measure the levels of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb) found in common vegetables (parsley, carrot, onion, lettuce, cucumber and green beans) grown in contaminated mining areas compared with those grown in reference clear area and to determine their potential detrimental effects via calculation of the daily metal intake (DImetal) and Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) for normal daily consumption of these vegetables, for male and female gender.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with the reference in contaminated areas, soil and plant contents of all analyzed metals are higher, usually over normally content for Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb. Particularly, in soil, higher values than intervention threshold values (ITV) were found for Cu and Pb and higher than maximum allowable limits (MAL) for Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb for parsley roots and leaves, carrot roots, cabbage, lettuce and cucumber. DImetal and THQ values for male and female were calculated for each vegetable and metal and for which oral reference doses exist. The combined THQ values calculated are concerning in that they are usually below the safe level of THQ<1 for all vegetables grown in reference area. In contaminated Moldova Noua (M) area the combined THQ exceeded the safe level only for parsley roots, while in more contaminated Ruschita (R) area combined THQ exceeded the safe level for parsley and carrot roots, lettuce and cabbage. Cd and Pb, most toxic metals to humans, have an increasing prevalence in the combined THQ for leafy (cabbage and lettuce) and fruit vegetables (cucumber). In the root vegetables only Pb has an increasing prevalence in combined THQ values. In all areas female THQ is higher than male THQ.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study regarding metal contents in soils, vegetables, DImetal and THQ suggest that the consumption of some vegetables (especially parsley, carrot and cabbage and less for lettuce, cucumber and green beans) is not free of risks in these areas. The complex THQ parameter use in health risk assessment of heavy metals provides a better image than using only a simple parameter (contents of metals in soils and vegetables).</p

Effect of EDTA and tannic acid on the removal of cd, ni, pb and cu from artificially contaminated soil by althaea rosea cavan

WOS: 000351059800008PubMed: 25747244In this study an ornamental plant of Althaea rosea Cavan was investigated for its potential use in the removal of Cd, Ni, Pb and Cu from an artificially contaminated soil. Effect of two different chelating agents on the removal has also been studied by using EDTA (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid) and TA (tannic acid). Both EDTA and TA have led to higher heavy metal concentration in shoots and leaves compared to control plants. However EDTA is generally known as an effective agent in metal solubilisation of soil, in this study, TA was found more effective to induce metal accumulation in Althaea rosea Cavan under the studied conditions. In addition to this, EDTA is toxic to some species and restraining the growth of the plants. The higher BCF (Bio Concentration Factor) and TF (Translocation Factor) values obtained from stems and leaves by the effects of the chemical enhancers (EDTA and TA) show that Althaea rosea Cavan is a hyper accumulator for the studied metals and may be cultivated to clean the contaminated soils.Ondokuz Mayis University Project OfficeOndokuz Mayis University [PYO-FEN 1904.12.008]The work was financially supported by Ondokuz Mayis University Project Office (No: PYO-FEN 1904.12.008)

Use of Modified Zeolites for the Remediation of Waters and Cultivated Soils from Cu(II)

The ability of iron oxides (goethite) and natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) to adsorb copper from its aqueous solutions was extensively studied in the past. In this paper, the production of modified zeolites (systems I and II) from raw materials of zeolite and goethite was investigated compared to the initial materials. These two systems presented higher adsorption than goethite or clinoptilolite. Comparing the two systems, system II presented higher adsorption than system I. Isotherm studies showed that the adsorption data from all materials were best described by Freundlich isotherm. According to thermodynamic study, the values of Delta G degrees became more negative with the increase of temperature, indicating that the adsorption process was more favorable to higher temperature. The positive values of Delta H degrees indicated endothermic nature of adsorption. The use of all adsorptive materials as soil improvements was also investigated. Goethite, zeolite, and systems I and II were mixed separately with three different soils (clay loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand). Lettuces were cultivated, and the combination of system II with the loamy sand soil led to the best morphological characteristics of lettuces with the minimum adsorption of copper. Consequently, modified zeolites could be considered as two satisfactory detergents of highly copper concentration in soil and water