Spatial distribution of heavy metals in crops in a wastewater irrigated zone and health risk assessment

Abstract Industrialization and urbanization have produced a large amount of wastewater. Part of the municipal wastewater has been used as an irrigation source in urban/suburban areas. Its utilization, although economically beneficial, can significantly deteriorate the integrity of the ecological systems (e.g., in terms of quality of soil and resulting food products). The objectives of this study are to investigate the spatial distribution and bio-accumulation of heavy metals (e.g., Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in food crops (and topsoil) and associated health risks of their consumption in the area of Mangla Dam, Pakistan. To this end, studies were conducted to assess the risk factors such as the bioconcentration factor (BCF), health risk index (HRI), and daily intake of heavy metals (DIM). Accordingly, there was more contamination in Mangla Dam water irrigated zone (DWI) than in the groundwater irrigated zone (GWI). Co exhibited the maximum BCF of 7.45 for Eruca sativa and 6.61 for Brassica campestris in the GWI zone. Likewise, enhanced risk to human health was seen from of Cd, Cr, and Pb in Triticum aestivum and Eruca sativa grown in the DWI zone. It is recommended that the quality profile of wastewater discharge into freshwater ecosystems should be continuously monitored and regulated.