Accumulation of Cd and Pb in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in calcareous soil irrigated with wastewater

Planktonic Invertebrates in the Assessment of Long-Term Change in Water Quality of the Sorbulak Wastewater Disposal System (Kazakhstan)

The multicomponent composition of wastewater makes it challenging to assess its quality objectively, but the last one is a prerequisite for the safe re-use of wastewater. The solution to this problem should be aimed at finding criteria that make it possible to increase the objectivity of assessing the water quality of reservoirs with multicomponent pollution. This work analyzes the water quality of the Sorbulak wastewater disposal system in the summer of 2017, based on chemical variables and zooplankton structure and assess the long-term changes in the water quality of Sorbulak. According to the Kruskal–Wallis test, in 2017, the differences between the studied water bodies in the content of nutrients and heavy metals were mostly insignificant. From 2000–2002 to 2017, nitrate, nitrite nitrogen, and heavy metals in Sorbulak significantly decreased. Zooplankton communities consisted of a relatively small number of eurybiontic species resistant to environmental factors. The variability of the quantitative variables of zooplankton was associated with the nutrients. Males dominated the population of the cyclopoid copepods Acanthocyclops trajani. In 2000–2002 individuals with morphological anomalies were found in cyclopoid copepods populations, but were absent in 2017. The appearance of individuals with morphological anomalies was associated with copper or lead. The chemical data and structure of zooplankton communities indicated that the toxic pollution of Sorbulak decreased by 2017 compared to 2000–2002. Our results demonstrate that the structural variables of zooplankton communities could be successfully used to assess the water quality of water bodies with mixed pollution. We recommend using not only the traditional set of biological variables (abundance, biomass, diversity indices, and the average mass of an individual), but also data on the structure of species dominance, the sex structure of copepod populations, and the presence of individuals with morphological anomalies for monitoring of water bodies with mixed pollution.

Bioconcentration, Potential Health Risks, and a Receptor Prediction Model of Metal(loid)s in a Particular Agro-Ecological Area

To investigate the bioconcentration and potential health risks of metal(loid)s in a particular agro-ecological area, 230 pairs of soil and corresponding crop grain samples were collected from typical corn and wheat plants. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), bioconcentration factors (BCF), health risk assessment (the target hazard quotient), and Receptor Prediction Model (PCS-SMLR) analysis were adopted to study the spatial distribution, assess the health risks, and predict the relationship between metal(loid)s and soil properties. It was found that the mean concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Cd in the study area’s agricultural soils exceeded the background soil concentrations, especially for Cd (0.2 mg/kg), Meanwhile, the corresponding Cd concentration in wheat samples was higher than the food quality limit. The results of the Igeo showed that the samples with a value higher than 0 for Cd and Hg accounted for 47.83% and 33.48%, respectively. The results of BCF of Cu, Zn, Cd, and As were higher in wheat than in corn, except for Ni. The target hazard quotient (TTHQ) of health risk of wheat, corn, and soil were higher for children (2.48) than adults (1.78), showing a potential health risk for individuals who mostly consume wheat. In addition, the PCS-SMLR analysis of the BCF prediction model for Cu, Zn, As, and soil properties showed differences in terms of the influences from wheat and corn. These results provide valuable information that not only can help local residents improve the staple food structure, but also can get provide a reference metal(loid)s concentration level for agricultural soils in the study area and restore a sustainable agro-ecological environment.