Impact of Untreated Municipal Wastewater Irrigation on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Topsoil and Subsoil

Subject Areas : Environmental pollutions (water, soil and air)

Eisa Solgi ¹ , Mehdi Shahverdi Nick ² , mehdi ramezani ³

1 - - Associate Professor, Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, Malayer, Hamedan, Iran. *(Corresponding Author)
2 - Master of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2016-11-28 Accepted : 2017-02-27 Published : 2020-05-21

Keywords: soil, Wastewater irrigation, Heavy Metals, Depth variations,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Due to the shortage of freshwater for irrigation, wastewater has been used in agricultural irrigation as an important supplement and alternative water resources in recent decades. Irrigation of fields with wastewater can cause potential contamination with heavy metals to soil crops and groundwater, therefore pose a threat to human health and food safety. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of irrigation with untreated municipal wastewater on the accumulation of cadmium lead (Pb), (Cd), copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) in topsoil and subsoil and top soil properties. Method: In the present study in order to collection of topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (0-40 cm) samples from south of the Borujerd city, 13 fields irrigated with untreated wastewater and 7 fields irrigated with well water were selected with same soil texture. Soil samples were analyzed by the standard methods for Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM).  Findings: Findings indicated that untreated wastewater irrigated soil contained higher concentrations of all heavy metals in topsoil (with the exception of Cu) and in subsoil, compared to well water irrigated soil. Trend of depth variations of metals in irrigated soil followed this form: 1-With wastewater: Pb and Cu in subsoil>topsoil; Cd and Zn in topsoil > subsoil and 2-With well water: Pb and Cu in topsoil > subsoil; Cd and Zn in subsoil > topsoil. Discussion and Conclusion: It seems that light soil texture has been resulted to transport of the metals to deeper soil layers. Overall, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn were lower than the FAO/WHO standards in soil, while Cd higher than this. Thus, in order to ensure food safety and use of wastewater for irrigation, continuous monitoring and pollution control is required. Besides, if treatment of wastewater is done appropriately, accumulation of heavy metals in soils and crops will occur less.  

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