Abstract
Food chain contamination by soil cadmium (Cd) through vegetable consumption poses a threat to human health. Therefore, an understanding is needed on the relationship between the phytoavailability of Cd in soils and its uptake in edible tissues of vegetables. The purpose of this study was to establish soil Cd thresholds of representative Chinese soils based on dietary toxicity to humans and develop a model to evaluate the phytoavailability of Cd to Pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) based on soil properties. Mehlich-3 extractable Cd thresholds were more suitable for Stagnic Anthrosols, Calcareous, Ustic Cambosols, Typic Haplustalfs, Udic Ferrisols and Periudic Argosols with values of 0.30, 0.25, 0.18, 0.16, 0.15 and 0.03 mg kg−1, respectively, while total Cd is adequate threshold for Mollisols with a value of 0.86 mg kg−1. A stepwise regression model indicated that Cd phytoavailability to Pak choi was significantly influenced by soil pH, organic matter, total Zinc and Cd concentrations in soil. Therefore, since Cd accumulation in Pak choi varied with soil characteristics, they should be considered while assessing the environmental quality of soils to ensure the hygienically safe food production.
Highlights
Cadmium (Cd) is an important environmental pollutant toxic to animals and human beings
Mollisols contained the highest amount of organic matter and exhibited an elevated cation exchange capacity as well (Table 1)
Mehlich-3 extractable Cd ranged from 0.16–3.95 mg kg21 in these soils under different Cd levels (Table 2)
Summary
Cadmium (Cd) is an important environmental pollutant toxic to animals and human beings. It is one of the most mobile elements, among all the toxic heavy metals [1]. Cadmium is not required for plants growth or reproduction, its bioaccumulation and subsequent accrual in the food chain surpasses all other trace elements due to its high mobility in soil [2]. It is the most toxic element in the environment and even at low concentrations is very toxic to living cells and considered as carcinogenic [3]. Crops produced from Cd contaminated soils may be unsuitable or even detrimental for animal and human consumption [7]
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