SpringerLink
Log in

Long-term impact of sewage irrigation on soil properties and assessing risk in relation to transfer of metals to human food chain

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A case study was undertaken to assess the risk of sewage-irrigated soils in relation to the transfer of trace elements to rice and wheat grain. For this purpose, peri-urban agricultural lands under the Keshopur Effluent Irrigation Scheme (KEIS) of Delhi were selected. These agricultural lands have been receiving irrigation through sewage effluents since 1979. Sewage effluent, groundwater, soil, and plant (rice and wheat grain) samples were collected with GPS coordinates from this peri-urban area. Under wheat crop, sewage irrigation for four decades resulted into a significant buildup of zinc (141 %), copper (219 %), iron (514 %), nickel (75.0 %), and lead (28.1 %) in sewage-irrigated soils over adjacent tube well water-irrigated ones. Under rice crop, there was also a significant buildup of phosphorus (339 %), sulfur (130 %), zinc (287 %), copper (352 %), iron (457 %), nickel (258 %), lead (136 %), and cadmium (147 %) in sewage-irrigated soils as compared to that of tube well water-irrigated soils. The values of hazard quotient (HQ) for intake of trace toxic elements by humans through consumption of rice and wheat grain grown on these sewage-irrigated soils were well within the safe permissible limit. The variation in Zn, Ni, and Cd content in wheat grain could be explained by solubility-free ion activity model (FIAM) to the extent of 50.1, 56.8, and 37.2 %, respectively. Corresponding values for rice grain were 49.9, 41.2, and 42.7 %, respectively. As high as 36.4 % variation in As content in rice grain could be explained by solubility-FIAM model. Toxic limit of extractable Cd and As in soil for rice in relation to soil properties and human health hazard associated with consumption of rice grain by humans was established. A similar exercise was also done in respect of Cd for wheat. The conceptual framework of fixing the toxic limit of extractable metals and metalloid in soils with respect to soil properties and human health hazard under the modeling framework was established.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (France)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alam MGM, Snow ET, Tanka A (2003) Arsenic and heavy metal contamination of vegetable grown in Samata village, Bangladesh. Sci Total Environ 308:83–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belaid N, Neel C, Kallel M, Ayoub T, Ayadi A (2012) Long term effects of treated wastewater irrigation on calcisol fertility: a case study of Sfax-Tunisia. AgrlSci 3:702–713

    Google Scholar 

  • Brar MS, Mahli SS, Singh AP, Arora C, Gill KS (2000) Sewer water irrigation effects on some potentially toxic trace elements in soil and potato plants in northwestern India. Can J Soil Sci 80:465–471

  • Chesnin I, Yien CH (1950) Turbidimetric determination of available sulfate. Proc Soil Sci Soc Am 15:149–151

  • CPCB (2013) Performance evaluation of sewage treatment plants under NRCD. Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi, India

    Google Scholar 

  • Datta SP, Young SD (2005) Predicting metal uptake and risk to the human food chain from leafy vegetables grown on soils amended by long-term application of sewage sludge. Water Air Soil Poll 163:119–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Datta SP, Biswas DR, Saharan N, Ghosh SK, Rattan RK (2000) Effect of long term application of sewage effluents on organic carbon, bio-available phosphorus, potassium and heavy metal status of soils and content of heavy metals in crops grown there on. J Ind Soc Soil Sci 48:836–839

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Datta SP, SubbaRao A, Ganeshamurthy AN (1997) Effect of electrolytes coupled with variable stirring on soil pH. J Ind Soc Soil Sci 45:185–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Deb DL, Sakal R, Datta SP (2009) Micronutrients. In: Fundamentals of Soil Science. Indian Society of Soil Science, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Deckers J, Steinnes E (2004) State of the art on soil-related geo-medical issues in the world. Adv Agron 84:1–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Delibacack S, Okur OAR (2009) Effect of sewage sludge levels on temporal variation of some soil properties of typic Xerofluent soil in Menemen Plain, Western Anatolia, Turkey. Environ Monit Assess 148:85–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golui D, Datta SP, Rattan RK, Dwivedi BS, Meena MC (2014) Predicting bioavailability of metals from sludge amended soils. Environ Monit Assess 186:8541–8553

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grzetic I, Rabia H, Ghariani A (2008) Potential health risk assessment for soil heavy metal contamination in the central zone of Belgrade (Serbia). J Serb Chem Soc 73:923–934

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassanli Ali M, Javan M, Saadat Y (2008) Reuse of municipal effluent with the effect on soil properties in semi-arid area. Environ Monit Assess 144:151–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hough RL, Young SD, Crout NMJ, Tye AM (2004) Assessing potential risk of heavy metal exposure from consumption of home produced vegetable by urban populations. Environ Health Persp 112:215–221

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IRIS (2015) Integrated risk information system-database, US Environmental Protection Agency

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson ML (1973) Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Jopony M, Young SD (1994) The solid solution equilibria of lead and cadmium in polluted soils. Eur J Soil Sci 45:59–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jungk A, Claassen N (1997) Ion diffusion in the soil-root system. Adv Agron 61:53–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kapungwe EM (2013) Heavy metal-contaminated food crops irrigated with wastewater in peri urban areas, Zambia. OJ metal 3:77–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kharche VK, Desai VN, Pharande AL (2011) Effect of sewage irrigation on soil properties, essential nutrient and pollutant element status of soils and plants in a vegetable growing area around Ahmednagar city in Maharashtra. J Ind Soc Soil Sci 59(2):177–184

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R, Kimble JM, Follet RF, Cole CV (1998) The potential of U.S. cropland to sequester carbon and mitigate the greenhouse effect. Slee** Bear Press Inc, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay WL (1979) Chemical equilibria in soils. Willeyinter sciences, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay WL, Norvell WA (1978) Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil SciSoc Am J 42:421–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masto RE, Chhonkar PK, Singh D, Patra AK (2008) Environ changes in soil quality indicators under long-term sewage irrigation in a sub-tropical environment. Environ Geol 49:21–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Nabulo G, Black CR, Young SD (2011) Trace metal uptake by tropical vegetables grown on soil amended with sewage sludge. Environ Pollut 159:368–376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naveedulah, Hashmi MZ, Yu C, Shen H, Duan D, Shen C, Lou L, Chen Yi. (2013) Risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil of Siling reservoir watershed in Zhejiang. Bio Med Res Int (Article ID 590306).

  • NCIWRD (1999) Integrated water resource development: a plan for action: report of the national commission of integrated water resource development (NCIWRD): volume 1. Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watanabe FS, Dean LA (1954) Estimation of available phosphorus in soil by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. U.S. Dep. Agric. Rep. Circular no. 93.

  • Parker DR, Pedler JF (1997) Re-evaluating the free-ion activity model of trace metal availability to higher plants. Plant Soil 25:223–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pescod M (1992) Wastewater treatment and use in agriculture. Bull, FAO 47 (125) (Rome)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierzynski GM, Sims JT, Vance GF (2000) Soil phosphorus and environmental quality. In: Soils and Environmental Quality. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 155–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Rang Zan N, Datta SP, Rattan RK, Dwivedi BS, Meena MC (2013) Prediction of solubility of zinc, copper, nickel, cadmium and lead in metal contaminated soils. Environ Monit Assess 185:10015–10025

  • Rattan RK, Shukla LM (1984) Critical limits of deficiency and toxicity of zinc in paddy in a Typic Ustipsamment. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 15:1041–1050

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rattan RK, Datta SP, Sanyal SK (2009) Pollutant elements and human health. Bull Ind Soc Soil Sci 27:103–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Rattan RK, Datta SP, Chandra S, Saharan N (2002) Heavy metals and environmental quality: Indian scenario. Fert News 47:21–26

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rattan RK, Datta SP, Chhonkar PK, Suribabu K, Singh AK (2005) Long-term impact of irrigation with sewage effluents on heavy metal content in soils, crops and groundwater—a case study. Agric Ecosyst Environ 109:310–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell DL (1994) Soil science—methods and application. Pearson Education Ltd, Essex, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Sashikanth (2010) Evaluation of pesticide residues in soil, water and crop along the course of river Musi, Hyderabad. M.Sc (Ag) Thesis. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh AK, Pandeya SB (1998) Sorption and release of cadmium-fulvic acid complexes in sludge treated soils. BioresourceTechnol 66(1):51–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snedecor GW, Cochran WG (1967) Statistical methods. In: The Lowa State University, 7th edn. Press America, Lowa, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks DL (1995) Environmental soil chemistry. Academic, San Diego, CA, pp 81–97

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • USEPA (1991) US Environmental Protection Agency. Annual reports FY 1990. USEPA report540/8-91/067. USEPA, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Usha Rani K, Sharma KL, Nagasri K, Suma Chandrika D, Savithri VL, Lal M (2014) Effect of long-term sewage water irrigation on micronutrient and heavy metal content in soil and plants under Musi river basin in Hyderabad. J Ind Pollut Contr 30(1):7–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Verma BC, Datta SP, Rattan RK, Singh AK (2013) Impact of temperature and moisture regimes on carbon and nitrogen in an alluvial soil amended with organics. Agrochimica Vol. LVII-N.1

  • Walkley A, Black IA (1934) An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe FS, Olsen SR (1965) Test of ascorbic acid method for determining phosphorus in water and sodium bicarbonate extracts of soil. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 29:677–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams CH, Steinbergs A (1959) Soil sulphur fractions as chemical indices of available sulphur in some Australian soils. Aus J Agril Res 10:340–353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1996) World Health Organization. Trace elements in human nutrition and health, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2002) The World Health Report. World Health Organization, Geneva

  • Yadav RK, Goyal B, Sharma RK, Dubey SK, Minhas PS (2002) Post-irrigation impact of domestic sewage effluent on composition of soils, crops and groundwater—a case study. Environ Int 28:481–486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was made possible by the financial support provided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in the form of a Junior Research Fellowship to the first author during his M.Sc. program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Ramu Meena, S. P. Datta, Debasis Golui, B. S. Dwivedi & M.C. Meena

Authors
  1. Ramu Meena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. P. Datta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Debasis Golui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. S. Dwivedi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M.C. Meena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. P. Datta.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Meena, R., Datta, S.P., Golui, D. et al. Long-term impact of sewage irrigation on soil properties and assessing risk in relation to transfer of metals to human food chain. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 14269–14283 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6556-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6556-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation