Heavy Metals Uptake by Several Crops Grown in Soils Irrigated with Sewage Wastewater in Assiut: Case Study

EXCESSIVE accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils may not only result in environmental contamination, but leads to elevated heavy metal uptake by plants which may affect food quality and safety. The research work here studied heavy metal concentrations in wheat, corn, sorghum, bean, clover, onion, garlic and squash plants, which were irrigated with untreated sewage water in El-Madabegh and five other villages near Assiut City. The plants were analyzed for the content of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni and Pb.
 
Cadmium, Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations in all studied soils and plants were relatively high due to irrigation with sewage wastewater compared to those irrigated with underground water.
 
This study highlights the potential hazard for the health of humans and animals due to uptake of high concentrations of heavy metals, especially Cd, Ni and Pb, by several crops.