Heavy metals in waters used for human consumption and crop irrigation

Laercio Santos Silva,José Maurício Da Cunha,Milton César Costa Campos,Ivanildo Amorim De Oliveira,Ludmila De Freitas,Izabel Cristina De Luna Galindo,Clístenes Wilians Araújo Do Nascimento,Romário Pimenta Gomes

doi:10.4136/ambi-agua.1999

Laercio Santos Silva, José Maurício Da Cunha + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.1999

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Abstract

The consumption of contaminated water is a major source of heavy metal contamination in humans and animals. This study therefore aimed to assess Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels in water used for human and animal consumption and vegetable crop irrigation in Camocim de São Félix, Pernambuco, Brazil. Water samples were collected on the studied farms from an artesian well and reservoirs used for human and animal consumption as well as for crop irrigation. The results showed that concentrations of Cd (> 0.001 mg L-1), Ni (> 0.025 mg L-1) and Pb (> 0.01 mg L-1) were above the maximum allowable limits established under Brazilian law, indicating the need for a preventive monitoring program and immediate intervention initiatives aimed at the sources of contamination. The results demonstrate the need to quantify heavy metal content in vegetable crops, since their contamination by irrigation water may make them harmful to human health. Rainfall has a seasonal effect on heavy metal concentrations in water, showing a significant effect on Pb levels, whereas Cd and Ni content was less dependent on seasonal variation.

Highlights

Heavy metals can affect crop development and compromise the health of humans and animals by contaminating the food chain (Lee et al, 2006; Amin et al, 2013)
Agrochemicals are a decisive factor in increasing yields, they can cause heavy metal contamination (Mendes et al, 2010)
Cd levels in the water samples varied from 0.041 to 0.058 mg L-1 (Table 2 and Figure 2), with all samples found to be above the established standard (CONAMA, 2005) of 0.001 mg L-1, indicating contamination of these water sources; a similar situation was reported by Paty do Alferes (RJ) (Ramalho et al, 2000) in Barra do Choça (Bahia state - BA)

Summary

Introduction

Heavy metals can affect crop development and compromise the health of humans and animals by contaminating the food chain (Lee et al, 2006; Amin et al, 2013). Agriculture is one of the most important sources of heavy metal pollution of bodies of water, largely through fertilizers (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) and pesticides (Cu, Pb, Mn, Zn) (Mendes et al, 2006, Silva et al, 2016). In this respect, agrochemicals are a decisive factor in increasing yields, they can cause heavy metal contamination (Mendes et al, 2010). Fertilizers made from phosphate rocks can increase levels of heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the soil (Freitas et al, 2009)

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