Evaluation of bioaccessibility of metals and health risk in agriculture soil in Al-Qadisiyah governorate, Iraq

Abstract

The agricultural lands in Al-Qadisiyah Governorate are among the most economical sources in which various agricultural crops are grown, such as rice, wheat, and others. Samples were taken from seven agricultural areas in Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, and the heavy elements, including lead, zinc, cadmium, nickel, copper and chromium, were examined by atomic spectrometry. In order to know the extent of the danger of these elements in the soil and their impact on human health, pollution indices and SBET were used for this purpose. The results showed the highest value of relative bioaccessibility of lead (76.14%) in Ghamas, while the lowest value was (32.5%) in Afak. The largest value of the relative bioaccessibility of cadmium was found in Afak (82.22%), and the lowest value (30.24%) in the city of Shamiya. The pollution load indices revealed agricultural soils of Al-Qadisiyah Governorate ranged from light pollution to high pollution so that the lowest pollution values were for Zn to all agricultural soils, and the highest pollution values were for cadmium, especially in three sites (Afak, Albdair and Ghamas).