Case study on antiretroviral drugs uptake from soil irrigated with contaminated water: Bio-accumulation and bio-translocation to roots, stem, leaves, and fruits

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of uptake of the commonly used antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) in South Africa (abacavir, nevirapine, and efavirenz) by vegetable plants (beetroot, spinach, and tomato) from contaminated soil culture. The study results showed that all the studied vegetables have the potential to take up abacavir, nevirapine, and efavirenz from contaminated soil, be absorbed by the root, and translocate them to the aerial part of the plants. The total percentage of ARVDs found in the individual plant was mainly attributed to abacavir which contributed 53% in beetroot and 48% in spinach, while efavirenz (42%) was the main contributor in tomato. Abacavir was found at high concentrations to a maximum of 40.21 μg/kg in the spinach root, 18.43 μg/kg in the spinach stem, and 6.77 μg/kg in the spinach soil, while efavirenz was the highest concentrations, up to 35.44 μg/kg in tomato leaves and 8.86 μg/kg in tomato fruits. Spinach roots accumulated more ARVDs than beetroot and tomato however, the concentrations were not statistically different. Hydrophobicity was the main effect on the linearity, accumulation, and translocation of ARVDs. This study advances knowledge on the fate of ARVDs in agroecosystems, particularly in plant root – ARVD interaction and the resulting potentially toxic effects on plants. These results suggest that the quality of water used for crop irrigation needs to be assessed prior to irrigation to avoid vegetable plant pollution as contaminated water results in the contaminants uptake by plants. This may lead to the transfer of pollutants to the edible crops parts of and thus be unintentionally consumed by humans. More studies need to be continuously conducted to evaluate ARVDs bioaccumulation and their mechanism of uptake by other vegetables. The use of the pot-plant system can be recommended because it closely relates to the agricultural world.