|
1
|
Soliman M, Al-Akeel R, Al-Ghamdi M, Almadiy A, Rawi S, Zhang W, Al Dhafer H, Mohamed A, Al Naggar Y, Salem AM. Trophic transfer of heavy metals across a food chain in a wastewater-irrigated agroecosystem. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:1082. [PMID: 39432165 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-13179-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/22/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater irrigation is often practiced in arid regions, which can increase the chance of heavy metals contaminating the agricultural system. This contamination poses risks to both the environment and human health. This research looked into how cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) move through a food chain involving soil, plants, and arthropods. The study was conducted in El-Gabal El-Asfar, Egypt, comparing treated and untreated wastewater irrigation areas. Six soil-irrigated sites and one reference site were sampled for soil, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), two grasshopper species (Aiolopus thalassinus and Calephorus compressicornis), and a wolf spider (Hogna ferox). The samples were analyzed for their heavy metal content. Metal concentrations in all components of the wastewater irrigated system were significantly higher compared to the reference site. The wolf spider and the soil contained the highest levels of Cd, Pb, and Cu, while the greatest concentrations of Zn were found in the spider and grasshoppers. Despite limited transfer from soil to plant, trace elements biomagnified within the terrestrial food chain, specifically from grasshoppers to wolf spiders. The correlation analysis of metal levels between soils, plants, and arthropods in the present study reflects its transfer across the trophic levels. It suggests that dietary intake is the main source of metal accumulation in arthropods. The present study, therefore, quite clearly indicated the possibility of heavy metal biomagnification in terrestrial food chains of wastewater-irrigated agroecosystems. Continuous monitoring and management of such systems are advocated to avoid environmental and public health risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Soliman
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.
| | - Rasha Al-Akeel
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariam Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 24381, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrhman Almadiy
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Arts, Najran University, King Abdulaziz Road, Najran, 1988, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sayed Rawi
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| | - Wei Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Guizhou University, Guiyang, Huaxi District, 550025, China
| | - Hathal Al Dhafer
- Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University Museum of Arthropods, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr Mohamed
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA.
| | - Yahya Al Naggar
- Applied College, Center of Bee Research and Its Products, Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, 61413, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abeer M Salem
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|