Abstract
BackgroundThe uptake of arsenic by vegetables from soil irrigated with arsenic enriched groundwater poses a major health hazard. The edible portion of these vegetables transfer arsenic to the human beings. The uptake of arsenic was studied in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) in a controlled greenhouse pot culture with calcareous sandy soil as substrate. The plants were irrigated with water containing sodium arsenate at concentrations 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg L− 1. The total arsenic concentration of the different plants parts was determined by ICP-MS, following microwave-assisted acid digestion. The change in plant biomass production and essential macroelements (Mg, P, K) and microelements concentration (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) was also studied.ResultsThe As concentration in the bean was in the order: root>stem>leaf>bean fruit and in lettuce: root>leaves. At the highest dose (0.5 mg L− 1) the As concentration in the bean fruit and lettuce leaves was 22.1 μg kg− 1 and 1207.5 μg kg− 1 DW, respectively. Increasing As concentration in the irrigation water resulted in decreased edible biomass production in bean, while in lettuce the edible biomass production increased. Neither plant exhibited any visible toxicity symptoms. No significant change was observed in the macro and microelements concentration. The total and the water-soluble arsenic in soil amounted to 3.5 mg kg− 1 and 0.023 mg kg− 1, respectively. The transfer factor was found to increase with increase in the As treatment applied. The transfer factor range for bean from root to fruit was 0.003–0.005, and for lettuce from root to leaves was 0.14–0.24.ConclusionConsidering the FAO-WHO recommended maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) limit of 2.1 μg kg− 1 body weight, and the biomass production, both plants should not be cultivated at As treatment level higher than 0.1 mg L− 1.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Climate change increases the frequency and duration of droughts resulting in a significant reduction in agricultural yields
Physical and chemical properties of the soil The physico-chemical parameters of the soil are given in Table 1 and some important ones are mentioned below
From the current study it can be concluded that lettuce leaves have higher As concentration as compared to the bean fruit
Summary
Climate change increases the frequency and duration of droughts resulting in a significant reduction in agricultural yields. The major As intake pathway for humans is oral, from drinking water and food (through the groundwater-soil-plant system) (Lu et al 2010; Bakhat et al 2017). The JECFA recommended maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) limit in food was 2.1 μg kg− 1 body weight (FAO-WHO 1988). This value was withdrawn later because studies indicated that inorganic As in range 2–7 μg kg− 1 bw per day increased incidence of lung, urinary bladder and skin cancer. The uptake of arsenic by vegetables from soil irrigated with arsenic enriched groundwater poses a major health hazard. The plants were irrigated with water containing sodium arsenate at concentrations 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg L− 1. The change in plant biomass production and essential macroelements (Mg, P, K) and microelements concentration (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) was studied
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