Sains Malaysiana 46(6)(2017): 917–924

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4606-11

 

Health Risks Assessment Diagnosis of Toxic Chemicals (Heavy Metals) via Food Crops Consumption Irrigated with Wastewater

(Diagnosis Penilaian Risiko Kesihatan Bahan Kimia Toksik (Logam Berat) melalui Penggunaan Tanaman Makanan yang Diairkan dengan Air Buangan)

 

MUHAMMAD ABRAR KHAN, SULTAN MEHMOOD, FAIZAN ULLAH*, ADNAN KHATTAK & MUHAMMAD ALAM ZEB

 

Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan

 

Received: 10 August 2016/Accepted: 27 December 2016

 

 

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the concentration of metals in commonly grown vegetables (Luffa acutangula L., Zea mays L., Solanum melongena L.) irrigated with waste water in District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The pH (5.80) and electrical conductivity (13 dS/m) of waste water indicated the acidic nature that is not suitable for irrigation purposes. Soil and vegetables samples were analyzed for metals concentration through flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Varian FAAS-240). The findings showed that waste water irrigated soil was highly contaminated with Cd (4.62 mg/kg) which was above permissible limits set by European Union Standard (EU 2006, 2002). The concentrations of heavy metals such as Cr and Cd in vegetables were higher than the permissible limits set by World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization U.S.A guidelines 2001. The health hazard quotient (HQ) of waste water irrigated vegetables was observed higher for Ni (0.699-0.1029 mg/kg), (0.0456-0.1040 mg/kg), (0.731-0.0994 mg/kg) in Luffa acutangula, Solanum melongena and Zea mays, respectively. The study concluded that the consumption of commonly grown vegetables in waste water zone of the study area may pose potential health threats in local population.

 

Keywords: Commonly grown vegetables; health risks; heavy metals; waste water

 

ABSTRAK

Penyelidikan ini mengkaji kepekatan logam dalam sayur-sayuran yang biasa ditanam (Luffa acutangula L., Zea mays L., Solanum melongena L.) diairkan dengan air buangan di Daerah Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. PH (5.80) dan pengaliran elektrik (13 dS/m) air buangan menunjukkan sifat asid yang tidak sesuai untuk tujuan pengairan. Sampel tanah dan sayur-sayuran telah dianalisis untuk kepekatan logam melalui spektroskopi serapan atom api (Varian FAAS-240). Keputusan kajian menunjukkan bahawa tanah yang diairkan dengan air buangan adalah sangat tercemar dengan Cd (4.62 mg/kg) melebihi had yang dibenarkan yang ditetapkan oleh piawai Kesatuan Eropah (EU 2006, 2002). Kepekatan logam berat seperti Cr dan Cd dalam sayur-sayuran adalah lebih tinggi daripada had yang dibenarkan yang ditetapkan oleh Pertubuhan Kesihatan Dunia/Organisasi Makanan dan Pertanian Amerika Syarikat garisan panduan 2001. Darjah bahaya kesihatan (HQ) daripada sayur-sayuran yang diairkan dengan air buangan diperhatikan lebih tinggi nilai Ni (0.699-0.1029 mg/kg), (0.0456-0.1040 mg/kg), (0.731-0.0994 mg /kg) masing-masing dalam Luffa acutangula, Solanum melongena dan Zea mays. Kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa pengambilan sayur-sayuran yang biasa ditanam di zon air buangan dari kawasan kajian berpotensi menimbulkan ancaman kesihatan kepada penduduk tempatan.

 

Kata kunci: Air buangan; logam berat; sayur-sayuran yang biasa ditanam; risiko kesihatan

 

 

 

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*Corresponding author; email: drfaizanwazir@gmail.com