Abstract
Higher accumulation of heavy metals in food grains is one of the leading problems for carcinogenic effects in the body. That’s why; scientists have taken this problem as a potential indicator for ensuring safe food. The present study was carried out to assess the ecological risk of heavy metals such as nickel, copper, arsenic, lead, and manganese in agricultural soil and transfer status to rice grain. Soil samples were collected from four agricultural fields at different times in the Dumuria Upazila under Khulna district in Bangladesh. Heavy metal concentration in soil extracts, irrigation water samples, and grain samples was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Average metal concentrations in soil were calculated and compared with the reference value in soil. In most cases, heavy metals in agricultural soil (Ni: 61.73–94.52 mg/kg; Cu: 23.33–37.5 mg/kg; As: 7.53–19.63 mg/kg; Pb: 15.17–29.19 mg/kg; Mn: 322.98–478.45 mg/kg) were greater than the reference soil (Ni: 13.08–24.55 mg/kg; Cu: 10.35–13.28 mg/kg; As: 1.87–4.61 mg/kg; Pb: 4.88–8.27 mg/kg; Mn: 52.17–74.3 mg/kg). Overall risk index stated that the examined soils were at moderate risk of contamination. Transfer Factor of arsenic (0.018–0.032 mg/kg) and manganese (0.059–0.155 mg/kg) was higher from soil to rice grain. On the other hand, transfer factor of lead was found negligible that is a good sign of improvement. The findings of the study will be good documentation for planning, risk assessment, and decision-making by environmental managers in this region.
Highlights
Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment, as a result of both natural and anthropogenic activities, and humans are exposed to them through various pathways [1]
The concentration of major heavy metals in agricultural soil stated that the soil pollution index was higher for Mn in all experimental sites after harvesting
Overall risk index depicted that all sampling sites were loading moderate risk of heavy metals should be taken into top consideration
Summary
Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment, as a result of both natural and anthropogenic activities, and humans are exposed to them through various pathways [1]. Different paints, and gasoline, agrochemical inputs like fertilizer, manures, residues, and human activities are the main cause for heavy metal accumulation in soil and increase heavy uptake through food consumption those grown on the contaminated area. Heavy metal load in soil and food crops is taken into research consideration in the scientific world due to the potential impact of human health risk. Accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils has taken consideration worldwide due to its harmful effects in soil ecological functions. Many studies have been carried out in Bangladeshi soil to assess the heavy metal status in soil. Salam et al [5] carried another research in the tobacco field in northern Bangladesh to measure the ecological risk of heavy metals and concluded that tobacco cultivation increases the vulnerability of heavy
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