Study of Heavy Metals in Soil and Wheat Crop and their Transfer to Food Chain
Study of Heavy Metals in Soil and Wheat Crop and their Transfer to Food Chain
Nazish Huma Khan*, Mohammad Nafees and Adila Bashir
ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted in orchard field of peach and comparative non-orchard field with an attempt to know about the soil and wheat crop contamination caused by heavy metals (Cd, Cr and Ni). Soil samples were collected from both orchard and non-orchard fields and were extracted with Aqua-regia and Mehlich-3 extracting solutions for total and available metals respectively. Wheat crops from both fields (orchard and non-orchard) were collected and analyzed with aqua-regia for heavy metals contents. Results showed that the average concentrations of metals in soils of orchard and non-orchard fields were as chromium (Cr) 56.9 and 52.2 mg kg-1, Ni 29.8 and 27.9 mg kg-1 and Cd 2.46 and 1.11 mg kg-1, respectively. The risk contribution from Cd, Cr and Ni were significant in crop seeds of orchard field (THQ>1). The substantial load of heavy metals in studied fields showed the anthropogenic source of pollution. Therefore regular monitoring of heavy metals in soil and crops is necessary.
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