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Due to their persistence in the environment, and their highly toxic and bioaccumulative nature, heavy metals are well known to the environment. Vermicompost has gained popularity because it improves soil properties and, most importantly, remediates and immobilizes heavy metals. The present study assessed vermicompost effects on heavy metal bioaccumulation in tomato plants irrigated with wastewater. A plastic bag experiment was carried out with 5 kg of growing media in each bag. Growing media contain garden soil with four levels of vermicompost mixed at 0%, 5%, 15%, and 25%. The pots were irrigated with wastewater from different industries and tap water, which was taken as control. Wastewater was collected from the pharmaceutical industry, plastic industry, and sewage water of Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Peshawar. Vermicompost application significantly affected all tomatoes' growth attributes and heavy metals concentration. Results revealed that minimum Cd (2.48 mg kg -1 ), Cr (1.27 mg kg -1 ), Cu (4.10 mg kg -1 ), and Pb (0.62 mg kg -1 ) concentrations were recorded in tomatoes cultivated in 25 % vermicompost amended soil, while, maximum Cd (5.23 mg kg -1 ), Cr (2.29 mg kg -1 ), Cu (8.84 mg kg -1 ) and Pb (2.18 mg kg -1 ) concentrations were reported in sewage water irrigated plants., Overall, vermicompost applied at 25% significantly enhanced plant growth and yield, reducing the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of heavy metals. From the finding of this study, it is observed that wastewater irrigation of plants should be avoided because of the high level of heavy metals; in contrast, the application of vermicompost is highly recommended as compost reduces heavy metals bioaccumulation and enhances productivity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Potential toxic metal (PTE) accumulation in soil and water is one of the major sources of food crop contamination. PTE remediation from soil can be enhanced by the addition of organic matter to the growing media. An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different organic amendments on the accumulation of PTEs in pea plant grown on mine degraded soils. Mining soils from chromite mine (CM), soap stone mine (SSM), manganese mine (MM), and quartz mine (QM) were mixed with vermicompost (VC), leaf mould (LC), and spent mushroom compost (SMC) along with garden soil at 1:1:1 ratio. Various growth and yield-related attributes of pea plant as well as PTE concentrations in soil and plants were studied. The highest Cd (2.62 mg kg−1) and Cr (13.6 mg kg−1) concentration was reported in CM soil, while Pb (23.3 mg kg−1) and Mn (59.2 mg kg−1) concentration in SSM and MM soil, respectively. Mining soils significantly reduced the plant growth and yield, while organic amendments reduced the PTE availability and increased pea plant growth. Comparing the various organic fertilizers used, it was observed that VC efficiently reduced Cd, Cr, Pb, and Mn uptake by pea plant, subsequently, improved pea plant growth and productivity. In order to assess the effects of various amendments on PTE health risk reduction, various risk indices including plant tranfser factor, average daily intake, health risk, target hazard quotient, and target cancer risk were also calculated and the results revealed that application of compost particularly VC significantly reduced the dietary intake and health risks of PTEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As), being a toxic metalloid, is widely found in degraded land and severely affects the health of plants and human beings. Pot experiments were conducted to assess the effects of As on plant nutritional values (macronutrients and micronutrients). Three vegetables (potato, tomato, and lettuce), on the basis of taxonomic differences, were selected and grown on As degraded soils at four different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg kg−1); additionally, the effect of Cd and Pb on the As uptake by plants was studied. The edible parts were analysed for As, Cd, Pb, and essential macronutrients (vitamin C, protein, N, P, and K) and micronutrients (Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn). The As concentrations in lettuce, potato, and tomato were 0.76, 0.63, 0.57 mg kg−1, respectively, grown in soil with no contamination, whereas in contaminated vegetables, the concentration varied significantly depending upon the level of contamination. As interaction with Cd and Pb showed negative correlation, generally, with increasing of As concentration, the Cd and Pb concentrations decreased; however, this trend was not consistent for all treatments and selected plant species. The nutrient concentrations significantly (p < .001) varied in contaminated vegetables compared with the control. The amendments of As significantly (p < .01) increased the concentrations of Ca, N, and protein, whereas P and K concentrations were decreased. The correlation between As with Mn, Mg, and vitamin C depended upon the types of vegetables and the contamination levels. Mn contribution to the Recommended Dietary Allowance was significantly (p < .01) lower for contaminated vegetables, whereas less significant (p = .05) for Fe, Mg, P, and K and non‐significant for Ca, N, and protein for different age groups. It was observed that As degraded soil affected the quality and nutritional balance in vegetables and potentially the nutrient status of consumers. The nutrients degradation in contaminated vegetables was obviously higher because As concentration reduce soil to plant transfer of essential elements by forming metal‐oxide complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the potential health risk associated with toxic metals in contaminated foodstuffs (fruits, vegetables, and cereals) collected from various agriculture fields present in chromite mining-affected areas of mafic and ultramafic terrains (northern Pakistan). The concentrations of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Pb were quantified in both soil and food samples. The soil samples were highly contaminated with Cr (320 mg/kg), Ni (108 mg/kg), and Cd (2.55 mg/kg), which exceeded their respective safe limits set by FAO/WHO. Heavy metal concentrations in soil were found in the order of Cr>Ni>Pb>Zn>Cd and showed significantly ( p < 0.001) higher concentrations as compared to reference soil. The integrated pollution load index (PLI) value was observed greater than three indicating high level of contamination in the study area. The concentrations of Cr (1.80-6.99 mg/kg) and Cd (0.21-0.90 mg/kg) in foodstuffs exceeded their safe limits, while Zn, Pb, and Ni concentrations were observed within their safe limits. In all foodstuffs, the selected heavy metal concentrations were accumulated significantly ( p < 0.001) higher as compared to the reference, while some heavy metals were observed higher but not significant like Zn in pear, persimmon, white mulberry, and date-plum; Cd in pear, fig and white mulberry; and Pb in walnut, fig, and pumpkin. The health risk assessment revealed no potential risk for both adults and children for the majority of heavy metals, except Cd, which showed health risk index (HRI) >1 for children and can pose potential health threats for local inhabitants. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination is a globally recognized environmental issue, threatening human life very seriously. Increasing population and high demand for food resulted in release of various contaminants into environment that finally contaminate the food chain. Edible plants are the major source of diet, and their contamination with toxic metals may result in catastrophic health hazards. Heavy metals affect the human health directly and/or indirectly; one of the indirect effects is the change in plant nutritional values. Previously, a number of review papers have been published on different aspects of heavy metal contamination. However, no related information is available about the effects of heavy metals on the nutritional status of food plants. This review paper is focused upon heavy metal sources, accumulation, transfer, health risk, and effects on protein, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in plants. The literature about heavy metals in food plants shows that both leafy and nonleafy vegetables are good accumulators of heavy metals. In nonleafy vegetables, the bioaccumulation pattern was leaf > root ≈ stem > tuber. Heavy metals have strong influence on nutritional values; therefore, plants grown on metal-contaminated soil were nutrient deficient and consumption of such vegetables may lead to nutritional deficiency in the population particularly living in developing countries which are already facing the malnutrition problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]