Trace metal concentration in planted cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) from contaminated soils and its associated health risks

The concentration of trace metals (TMs) in soils and cucumber plants in contaminated and reference sites and their health risk for children and adults were investigated. Plant and soil were sampled through 30 squares distributed equally in six cucumber fields in the two sites. The pollution load ind...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit 2020-09, Vol.15 (3), p.205-217
Main Authors: Shehata, Hanaa S., Galal, Tarek M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Agriculture
Bioaccumulation
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Cadmium
Chemistry/Food Science
Children
Chromium
Copper
Crop production
Cucumbers
Food chains
Food Science
Fruits
Health hazards
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Ingestion
Iron
Lead
Life Sciences
Manganese
Metal concentrations
Nickel
Plant Genetics and Genomics
Pollution
Pollution control
Pollution index
Pollution load
Research Article
Sediment pollution
Soil contamination
Soil investigations
Soil pollution
Soils
Trace metals
Translocation
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Summary:The concentration of trace metals (TMs) in soils and cucumber plants in contaminated and reference sites and their health risk for children and adults were investigated. Plant and soil were sampled through 30 squares distributed equally in six cucumber fields in the two sites. The pollution load index, which is the ratio of the concentration of TMs in contaminated and reference soils, showed extensive accumulation of TMs in contaminated soils. The dry and fresh biomass, and fruit production of cucumbers was significantly reduced under pollution stress. The bioaccumulation factor was > 1 for all investigated TMs, except Cd in the reference and Cd, Cr, Zn and Co in the contaminated site indicating the uptake of the investigated TMs from the soil by the root. In addition, the translocation factor to the stem and leaves was  1 for Fe in adults, and Pb and Fe in children, indicating a health risk for humans by ingestion of cucumbers, while in reference site it was  1, indicating a high potential of health hazard to consumers. It is necessary to regularly monitor toxic TMs to prevent their accumulation in the food chain.
ISSN:1661-5751
1661-5867
DOI:10.1007/s00003-020-01284-z