Ahmed Saeed Fathi Yousef Abuzaid
Professor
Abuzaid, A. S., Jahin, H. S., Assad, A. A., Fadl, M. E., AbdelRahman, M. E. and Scopa, A. 2021. Accumulation of potentially toxic metals in Egyptian alluvial soils, berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.), and groundwater after long-term wastewater irrigation. Agriculture, 11: 713, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080713
Agriculture • 2021
Publication Information
Authors
Abuzaid, A. S; Jahin, H. S.; Assad, A. A.; Fadl, M. E.; AbdelRahman, M. E.; Scopa, A.
Keywords
Wastewater irrigation; Alluvial soils; Nile Delta; Berseem clover; Groundwater; Potentially toxic metals
Journal
Agriculture
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Volume
11
Issue
Not Available
Pages
713
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Open Link
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
The reduced availability of water resources in Egypt has imposed the need to intensify the
use of wastewater for crop irrigation in the alluvial soils. Relevant effects can derive from contents of
potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in supply resources soils, crops, and groundwater in these areas. For
this reason the PTM content has to be monitored to evaluate and minimize health hazards. Therefore,
in this context, two areas of the SE Nile Delta subjected to 25 year of wastewater irrigation, using
agricultural drainage water (ADW) and mixed wastewater (MWW) were chosen and compared
with a nearby site irrigated with Nile freshwater (NFW). At each of the three sites, ten samples of
irrigation water, topsoil, berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) plants, and seven groundwater
samples were collected and analyzed for Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Results indicate that the
total contents of Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn in soils collected from the three sampling sites and Pb in the
MWW-irrigated soils were higher than their average natural contents in the earth’s crust, indicating
potential risks. The DTPA-extractable contents of Cu in the three sites, in addition to Pb and Zn in
the MWW-irrigated soils, exceeded the safe limits. The MWW-irrigated soils showed a considerable
degree of metal contamination, while the NFW- and ADW-irrigated soils showed moderate and low
levels of contamination, respectively. The contents of the six PTMs in the three sites showed low
individual ecological risks, except for Pb in the MWW-irrigated soils that showed a moderate risk;
however, the overall ecological risk remained low in all samples. The values of Co, Cu, and Ni in
berseem shoot in addition to Pb from the MWW-irrigated soils were over the maximum permissible
levels for animal feeding. Values of root-to-shoot translocation factor were lower than 1.0 for Cr, Co
and Ni but higher than 1.0 for Cu, Pb, and Zn. Berssem plant is a good candidate for phytofiltration
of Cr, Co and Ni, while for extracting Cu, Pb and Zn from polluted soils. The groundwater samples
collected from the three sampling sites showed lower metal concentrations than the safe limits for
drinking standards. Further remediation studies should be taken into account to alleviate potential
environmental and health-related risks when using supply resources different from freshwater.
use of wastewater for crop irrigation in the alluvial soils. Relevant effects can derive from contents of
potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in supply resources soils, crops, and groundwater in these areas. For
this reason the PTM content has to be monitored to evaluate and minimize health hazards. Therefore,
in this context, two areas of the SE Nile Delta subjected to 25 year of wastewater irrigation, using
agricultural drainage water (ADW) and mixed wastewater (MWW) were chosen and compared
with a nearby site irrigated with Nile freshwater (NFW). At each of the three sites, ten samples of
irrigation water, topsoil, berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) plants, and seven groundwater
samples were collected and analyzed for Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Results indicate that the
total contents of Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn in soils collected from the three sampling sites and Pb in the
MWW-irrigated soils were higher than their average natural contents in the earth’s crust, indicating
potential risks. The DTPA-extractable contents of Cu in the three sites, in addition to Pb and Zn in
the MWW-irrigated soils, exceeded the safe limits. The MWW-irrigated soils showed a considerable
degree of metal contamination, while the NFW- and ADW-irrigated soils showed moderate and low
levels of contamination, respectively. The contents of the six PTMs in the three sites showed low
individual ecological risks, except for Pb in the MWW-irrigated soils that showed a moderate risk;
however, the overall ecological risk remained low in all samples. The values of Co, Cu, and Ni in
berseem shoot in addition to Pb from the MWW-irrigated soils were over the maximum permissible
levels for animal feeding. Values of root-to-shoot translocation factor were lower than 1.0 for Cr, Co
and Ni but higher than 1.0 for Cu, Pb, and Zn. Berssem plant is a good candidate for phytofiltration
of Cr, Co and Ni, while for extracting Cu, Pb and Zn from polluted soils. The groundwater samples
collected from the three sampling sites showed lower metal concentrations than the safe limits for
drinking standards. Further remediation studies should be taken into account to alleviate potential
environmental and health-related risks when using supply resources different from freshwater.