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Rossini-Oliva S, Nuñez RL. Is it healthy urban agriculture? Human exposure to potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from Andalusia, Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:36626-36642. [PMID: 38748351 PMCID: PMC11182867 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33500-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Different vegetable species and topsoils were collected from different urban gardens of Seville, Cordoba, and Huelva (South Spain) and from two small towns in a mining area (Riotinto), together with topsoil close to the plants. The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was evaluated in edible plant parts and in the soils. The same species were also purchased from Seville local markets and from a peri-urban area (domestic garden in a rural area) and also analyzed. Plant/soil pollution relation was studied and human health risk was assessed by different parameters. Soils of urban gardens from the mining area were more contaminated with As, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in comparison with other locations, and generally, soils from cities showed higher values of As, Pb, and Zn than the peri-urban ones. The mean concentration of almost all potentially toxic elements was higher in leafy than in fruiting and bulbous species. Arsenic, Cd, and Pb concentrations were below health-based guidance values in all vegetables except Cd in one sample in the peri-urban area. In general, PTEs concentration in vegetables from city urban gardens did not exceed the one found in market vegetables for almost all studied elements, except in lettuce for almost elements. The hazard quotient (HQ) values were lower than the unit for all PTEs in plant species from the studied gardens, as well as the hazard index (HI), indicating that consumption of these vegetables can be considered safe and without risk to human health. Also, cancer risk values for As were below the established limits in all vegetables from the studied urban gardens, including those from the As-contaminated soils in the mining area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Rossini-Oliva
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Avda. Reina Mercedes S/N, 41080, Seville, Spain.
| | - Rafael López Nuñez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Avda. Reina Mercedes 10, 41012, Seville, Spain
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Liu J, Zou J, Deng L, Peng G, Liu S, Rui P, Wang X, Wang L, Gao Y, Lu L. Electroactive poly(thionine) as imprinted polymer and reference probe simultaneously for ratiometric ion imprinted electrochemical Pb 2+sensor. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 34:505709. [PMID: 37725965 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/acfb0d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
In this work, an electrochemical sensor based on ion-imprinted polymer/Au nanoparticles/porous biochar (IIP/AuNPs/PBC) composite was proposed for the highly selective and sensitive detection of Pb2+. In this work, poly (thionine) (pTHI) served simultaneously as imprinted polymer and reference probe. It could not only realize the specific detection of Pb2+, but also provide an internal reference signal to eliminate the influence of human and environmental factors on the detection signal and further improve the stability of the sensor. In addition, the AuNPs/PBC composite with large specific surface area, excellent electron transport and electrocatalytic performance could effectively enhance the detection signal as a carrier material. At the same time, the AuNPs on the PBC surface would promote the formation of uniform and stable IIP through Au-S bonds. The synergistic effect between IIP, AuNPs/PBC and ratiometric signal mode gave the Pb2+sensor excellent performance, including a wide linear range (0.1-1000μg l-1), low detection limit (0.03μg l-1, S/N = 3), excellent selectivity and stability. All these results indicate that the proposed sensor could provide a meaningful reference for highly selective detection of heavy metal ions (HMIs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Zou
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Linbo Deng
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanwei Peng
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuwu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Peixin Rui
- College National Engineering Research Center for Carbohydrate Synthesis, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Linyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Yansha Gao
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
| | - Limin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Plant Resources of Nanchang, College of Chemistry and Materials, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, People's Republic of China
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Gunjyal N, Rani S, Asgari Lajayer B, Senapathi V, Astatkie T. A review of the effects of environmental hazards on humans, their remediation for sustainable development, and risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:795. [PMID: 37264257 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11353-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In the race for economic development and prosperity, our earth is becoming more polluted with each passing day. Technological advances in agriculture and rapid industrialization have drastically polluted the two pillars of natural resources, land and water. Toxic chemicals and microbial contaminants/agents created by natural and anthropogenic activities are rapidly becoming environmental hazards (EH) with increased potential to affect the natural environment and human health. This review has attempted to describe the various agents (chemical, biological, and physical) responsible for environmental contamination, remediation methods, and risk assessment techniques (RA). The main focus is on finding ways to mitigate the harmful effects of EHs through the simultaneous application of remediation methods and RA for sustainable development. It is recommended to apply the combination of different remediation methods using RA techniques to promote recycling and reuse of different resources for sustainable development. The report advocates for the development of site-specific, farmer-driven, sequential, and plant-based remediation strategies along with policy support for effective decontamination. This review also focuses on the fact that the lack of knowledge about environmental health is directly related to public health risks and, therefore, focuses on promoting awareness of effective ways to reduce anthropological burden and pollution and on providing valuable data that can be used in environmental monitoring assessments and lead to sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Gunjyal
- Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India
| | - Swati Rani
- Department of Biotechnology, Ambala College of Engineering and Applied Research, 133001, Ambala Cantt, Jagadhari Rd, P.O, Sambhalkha, Haryana, India.
| | | | | | - Tess Astatkie
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
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El Youssfi M, Sifou A, Ben Aakame R, Mahnine N, Arsalane S, Halim M, Laghzizil A, Zinedine A. Trace elements in Foodstuffs from the Mediterranean Basin-Occurrence, Risk Assessment, Regulations, and Prevention strategies: A review. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:2597-2626. [PMID: 35754061 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03334-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Trace elements (TEs) are chemical compounds that naturally occur in the earth's crust and in living organisms at low concentrations. Anthropogenic activities can significantly increase the level of TEs in the environment and finally enter the food chain. Toxic TEs like cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury have no positive role in a biological system and can cause harmful effects on human health. Ingestion of contaminated food is a typical route of TEs intake by humans. Recent data about the occurrence of TEs in food available in the Mediterranean countries are considered in this review. Analytical methods are also discussed. Furthermore, a discussion of existing international agency regulations will be given. The risk associated with the dietary intake of TEs was estimated by considering consumer exposure and threshold values such as Benchmark dose lower confidence limit and provisional tolerable weekly intake established by the European Food Safety Authority and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, respectively. Finally, several remediation approaches to minimize TE contamination in foodstuffs were discussed including chemical, biological, biotechnological, and nanotechnological methods. The results of this study proved the occurrence of TEs contamination at high levels in vegetables and fish from some Mediterranean countries. Lead and cadmium are more abundant in foodstuffs than other toxic trace elements. Geographical variations in TE contamination of food crops clearly appear, with a greater risk in developing countries. There is still a need for the regular monitoring of these toxic element levels in food items to ensure consumer protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad El Youssfi
- Laboratory of Applied Chemistry of Materials, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Avenue Ibn Battouta BP.1014 Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
- Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Environment, Center of Materials, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Avenue Ibn Battouta, BP.1014, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Aicha Sifou
- Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Environment, Center of Materials, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Avenue Ibn Battouta, BP.1014, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Rachid Ben Aakame
- Laboratory of Food Toxicology, National Institute of Hygiene (INH), BP 769 Agdal, 27, Avenue Ibn Batouta, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Naima Mahnine
- Laboratory of Food Toxicology, National Institute of Hygiene (INH), BP 769 Agdal, 27, Avenue Ibn Batouta, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Said Arsalane
- Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Environment, Center of Materials, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Avenue Ibn Battouta, BP.1014, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Halim
- Laboratory of Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies and Environment, Center of Materials, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Avenue Ibn Battouta, BP.1014, 10000, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Abdelaziz Laghzizil
- Laboratory of Applied Chemistry of Materials, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Faculty of Sciences, Avenue Ibn Battouta BP.1014 Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Abdellah Zinedine
- BIOMARE Laboratory, Chouaib Doukkali University, Faculty of Sciences, Route Ben Maachou, PO Box 20, 24000, El Jadida, Morocco.
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Augustsson A, Lundgren M, Qvarforth A, Hough R, Engström E, Paulukat C, Rodushkin I. Managing health risks in urban agriculture: The effect of vegetable washing for reducing exposure to metal contaminants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 863:160996. [PMID: 36539086 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160996] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A common, yet poorly evaluated, advice to remove contaminants from urban vegetables is to wash the produce before consumption. This study is based on 63 samples of chard, kale, lettuce and parsley that have grown near a heavily trafficked road in the third largest city in Sweden, with one portion of each sample being analysed without first being washed, and the other portion being subjected to common household washing. Concentrations of 71 elements were analysed by ICP-SFMS after a sample digestion that dissolves both the plant tissues and all potentially adhering particles. The results show that the washing effect, or the fraction removed upon washing, varies significantly between elements: from approximately 0 % for K to 68 % for the ∑REEs. Considering traditional metal contaminants, the efficiency decreased from Pb (on average 56 % lost) to Co (56 %) > Cr (55 %) > As (45 %) > Sb (35 %) > Ni (33 %) > Cu (13 %) > Zn (7 %) > Cd (7 %), and Ba (5 %). A clear negative correlation between the washing effect and the different elements' bioconcentration factors shows that the elements' accessibility for plant uptake is a key controlling factor for the degree to which they are removed upon washing. Based on the average washing efficiencies seen in this study, the average daily intake of Pb would increase by 130 % if vegetables are not washed prior to consumption. For the other contaminant metals this increase corresponds to 126 % (Co), 121 % (Cr), 82 % (As), 55 % (Sb), 50 % (Ni), 16 % (Cu), 8 % (Zn), 7 % (Cd) and 5 % (Ba). The advice to wash vegetables is therefore, for many elements, highly motivated for reducing exposure and health risks. For elements which are only slightly reduced when the vegetables are washed, however, advising should rather focus on reducing levels of contamination in the soil itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Augustsson
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Maria Lundgren
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Anna Qvarforth
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Rupert Hough
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
| | - Emma Engström
- Division of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden; ALS Laboratory Group, ALS Scandinavia AB, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Cora Paulukat
- Division of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Ilia Rodushkin
- Division of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden; ALS Laboratory Group, ALS Scandinavia AB, Luleå, Sweden
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Hiller E, Pilková Z, Filová L, Mihaljevič M, Špirová V, Jurkovič Ľ. Metal(loid) concentrations, bioaccessibility and stable lead isotopes in soils and vegetables from urban community gardens. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 305:135499. [PMID: 35777541 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Community gardens are "green oases" of recent cities with many benefits for human society. From a human health perspective, these benefits can be damaged by chemical contamination of soil and cultivated vegetables. Using geochemical approaches, this study characterised (i) total metal(loid) concentrations in soils and two commonly grown vegetables in urban community gardens (Bratislava, Slovakia), (ii) gastrointestinal bioaccessibility using a modified physiologically based extraction test (PBET), and (iii) stable lead (Pb) isotopes in order to identify sources of metal(loid)s, solubilisation in the human body and migration of Pb from soil to vegetables. While some soils could be considered contaminated when compared to the Slovak legislation for agricultural soil, the bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s did not exceed 20% in the intestinal phase, with the exception of cadmium (Cd). Tomatoes and lettuce contained low total and bioaccessible concentrations of metal(loid)s, being safe for people who consume their own grown vegetables. There were differences in Pb isotope composition among bulk soils, vegetables and bioaccessible Pb, with less radiogenic Pb being preferentially mobilised. Statistical methods considering the compositional nature of the geochemical data and the enrichment factor (EF) distinguished well metal(loid)s of natural origin (As, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, V) from those with anthropogenic contributions. This research has shown the usefulness of integrating different methodologies to better understand the geochemistry of metal(loid)s in urban soils with their highly diversified sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Hiller
- Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Zuzana Pilková
- Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Lenka Filová
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina 1, 842 48, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Martin Mihaljevič
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Špirová
- Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ľubomír Jurkovič
- Department of Geochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Kohli A, Guénon R, Jean-Soro L, Vidal-Beaudet L. Home and community composts in Nantes city (France): quality and safety regarding trace metals and metalloids. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:649. [PMID: 35931840 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10251-0] [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: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Home and community composting are key strategies for local organic waste management. The quality and safety of industrial composts are controlled, but those of home and community composts are not, and this could make them unsafe for use in kitchen gardens. Home (n = 20) and community (n = 41) composts, from urban and suburban areas including mildly Pb-contaminated allotment gardens, were analyzed for quality and safety regarding trace metals and metalloids (TMM) using mid-infrared Fourier transform spectrometry (FT-MIR) and portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. Home composts had a significantly higher Pb content (98 mg.kg-1 ± 10 mg.kg-1) than community composts (21 mg.kg-1 ± 2 mg.kg-1). Numerous home composts (85%) and a few community composts (17%) exceeded the organic farming thresholds for Pb (45 mg.kg-1) and Zn (100 mg.kg-1). The high mineral matter content and the relative abundance of chemical functions attributable to silicates (up to 35%) highly paralleled with TMM contents, mostly concentrated in the fine fraction. Co-inertia analysis highlighted strong and significant links between TMM contents and the whole chemical signature delivered by FT-MIR spectrometry. Pb-contaminated soil could be carried into home compost by green waste or by voluntary addition. Covariance analyses indicated that mineral matter and chemical functions only partly explained the variability in Pb content, suggesting a more complex combination of drivers. Community composting appears as a suitable local solution resulting in high-quality compost that complies with European organic farming regulations, while home composting from allotment gardens should be seriously evaluated to comply with such safety requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Kohli
- GERS-LEE, Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, 44344, Bouguenais, France.
- EPHOR, L'Institut Agro, Agrocampus Ouest, 49045, Angers, France.
- IRSTV, 44321, Nantes, France.
| | - René Guénon
- EPHOR, L'Institut Agro, Agrocampus Ouest, 49045, Angers, France
- IRSTV, 44321, Nantes, France
| | - Liliane Jean-Soro
- GERS-LEE, Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, 44344, Bouguenais, France
- IRSTV, 44321, Nantes, France
| | - Laure Vidal-Beaudet
- EPHOR, L'Institut Agro, Agrocampus Ouest, 49045, Angers, France
- IRSTV, 44321, Nantes, France
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Paltseva AA, Cheng Z, McBride M, Deeb M, Egendorf SP, Groffman PM. Legacy Lead in Urban Garden Soils: Communicating Risk and Limiting Exposure. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.873542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lead (Pb) exposure has long been recognized as a hazard to human health. Urban garden soils often contain elevated levels of Pb, mainly from legacy sources, which is a main barrier for urban gardening. The capacity of gardeners to access, understand, and act on scientific data related to soil contamination is also variable. This synthesis paper briefly summarizes the current scientific knowledge on soil Pb in urban gardens. Our objective is to produce clear recommendations about assessing actual risks and limiting exposure. First, we synthesize the nature and extent of soil contamination with Pb, and then describe how the bioavailability and risk of this contamination to humans is assessed. We then go on to potential exposure pathway through plants and remediation methods to improve soil health and reduce human exposure. We have developed best management practices for practitioners that include: (1) urban soil testing should be prioritized because of the high probability of Pb contamination, and urban gardening should not begin until thorough testing or remediation has been done; (2) documentation of land-use history should be required in all property transactions so that the potential for soil (and other) contamination can be clearly identified; (3) amendments cannot be relied upon as a treatment for contaminated soils to reduce risk to gardeners because they do not always make contaminants less harmful; (4) certain crops (such as fruiting vegetables) are much less susceptible to contamination than others and thus should be prioritized in urban gardens; (5) wherever feasible, raised beds filled with upcycled local mineral and organic materials are the preferred substrate for urban gardening. Further monitoring of potentially contaminated and remediated soils as well as effective communication with the public are necessary to ensure human safety.
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Alfaro MR, Ugarte OM, Lima LHV, Silva JR, da Silva FBV, da Silva Lins SA, do Nascimento CWA. Risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and edible parts of vegetables grown on sites contaminated by an abandoned steel plant in Havana. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2022; 44:43-56. [PMID: 34519917 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-01092-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Food production in areas contaminated by industrial wastes poses a serious risk to farmers and consumers. Here, we evaluate Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb concentrations in the soils and the edible parts of lettuce, chives, tomatoes, pepper, and cassava plants grown by small farmers in areas contaminated by slag from an abandoned steel plant in Havana, Cuba. The total, environmentally available, and bioavailable concentrations of metals in the soils and the metals bioconcentration factor in the plants were determined. The risks to human health from food and soil ingestion were estimated. The total and environmentally available concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Pb were above values considered safe by international standards, with likely adverse effect on human health. Cadmium was the most bioavailable metal, reflected in the highest accumulation in the crops' edible parts. Even with negligible DTPA-available Cr concentrations in soils, the Cr concentrations in edible parts of the crops exceeded regulatory levels, suggesting that rhizosphere mechanisms may increase Cr availability. The consumption of vegetables represented 70% of the daily intake dose for Cr, Cd, and Ni, while accidental ingestion of contaminated soil is the predominant human exposure route for Pb. Our results demonstrated the health risks associated with cultivating and consuming vegetables grown on metal contaminated soils in Havana and can assist public policies capable of guaranteeing the sustainability of urban agriculture and food security.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olegário Muñiz Ugarte
- Instituto de Suelos, MINAG, Autopista Costa-Costa km 8½, Capdevila, Boyeros, La Habana, Cuba
| | | | - Josévaldo Ribeiro Silva
- Departament of Agronomy, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, 52190000, Brazil
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Exploring the Potential Risk of Heavy Metal Pollution of Edible Cultivated Plants in Urban Gardening Contexts Using a Citizen Science Approach in the Project “Heavy Metal City-Zen”. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13158626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Urban gardening has become increasingly popular, creating green oases in cities; however, many of these activities are undertaken in areas of high traffic density or on ex-brown field sites. As a consequence, there are still some barriers to the adoption of these urban gardening practices for food production. One of the public concerns is the transfer of urban pollutants such as heavy metals into the consumer’s food chain, however, city-wide data is often difficult and expensive to collect. In the citizen science project described herein, we conducted simple citizen-led common collaborative experiments in urban community gardens. These data provided information on the potential risk of heavy metal contaminants and ways in which to mitigate those risks in an urban gardening context. Generally, values were below guideline thresholds, however, at a few garden sites, soil trace metal concentrations (Pb, Cd, Zn) exceeded Austrian recommended limits. Moreover, only at two sites were plant trace metal concentrations shown to be above European food standards limits. Given the citizen’s positive response to the project, we suggest expanding this study to the whole of Vienna, giving newly established gardens a chance to predetermine the risks posed by their local soils.
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Levin R, Zilli Vieira CL, Rosenbaum MH, Bischoff K, Mordarski DC, Brown MJ. The urban lead (Pb) burden in humans, animals and the natural environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 193:110377. [PMID: 33129862 PMCID: PMC8812512 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Centuries of human activities, particularly housing and transportation practices from the late 19th century through the 1980's, dispersed hundreds of millions of tons of lead into our urban areas. The urban lead burden is evident among humans, wild and domesticated animals, and plants. Animal lead exposures closely mirror and often exceed the lead exposure patterns of their human partners. Some examples: Pigeons in New York City neighborhoods mimicked the lead exposures of neighborhood children, with more contaminated areas associated with higher exposures in both species. Also, immediately following the lead in drinking water crisis in Flint MI in 2015, blood lead levels in pet dogs in Flint were 4 times higher than in surrounding towns. And combining lead's neurotoxicity with urban stress results in well-characterized aggressive behaviors across multiple species. Lead pollution is not distributed evenly across urban areas. Although average US pediatric lead exposures have declined by 90% since the 1970s, there remain well defined neighborhoods where children continue to have toxic lead exposures; animals are poisoned there, too. Those neighborhoods tend to have disproportionate commercial and industrial lead activity; a history of dense traffic; older and deteriorating housing; past and operating landfills, dumps and hazardous waste sites; and often lead contaminated drinking water. The population there tends to be low income and minority. Urban wild and domesticated animals bear that same lead burden. Soil, buildings, dust and even trees constitute huge lead repositories throughout urban areas. Until and unless we begin to address the lead repositories in our cities, the urban lead burden will continue to impose enormous costs distributed disproportionately across the domains of the natural environment. Evidence-based research has shown the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of some US public policies to prevent or reduce these exposures. We end with a series of recommendations to manage lead-safe urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronnie Levin
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Carolina L Zilli Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Marieke H Rosenbaum
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536, USA.
| | - Karyn Bischoff
- New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | | | - Mary Jean Brown
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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Bidar G, Pelfrêne A, Schwartz C, Waterlot C, Sahmer K, Marot F, Douay F. Urban kitchen gardens: Effect of the soil contamination and parameters on the trace element accumulation in vegetables - A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 738:139569. [PMID: 32516675 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Trace element contaminants in kitchen garden soils can contribute to human exposure through the consumption of homegrown vegetables. In urban areas, these soils can be contaminated to various degrees by trace element (TE). They are characterized by a great variability in their physicochemical parameters due to the high anthropization level, the wide variety and combination of disturbance sources, as well as the diversity of cultivation practices and the large range of contamination levels. Pollutants can be taken up by vegetables cultivated in these soils and be concentrated in their edible parts. In this review, the behavior of vegetables cultivated in contaminated kitchen gardens is assessed through six examples of the most widely cultivated vegetables (lettuce, tomato, bean, carrot, radish, potato). The role of soil parameters that could influence the uptake of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn by these vegetables is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Géraldine Bidar
- Yncréa, ULR 4515, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), Lille F- 59000, France.
| | - Aurélie Pelfrêne
- Yncréa, ULR 4515, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), Lille F- 59000, France
| | - Christophe Schwartz
- Université de Lorraine, INRA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Christophe Waterlot
- Yncréa, ULR 4515, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), Lille F- 59000, France
| | - Karin Sahmer
- Yncréa, ULR 4515, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), Lille F- 59000, France
| | - Franck Marot
- Agence De l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie (ADEME), Direction Villes et Territoires Durables, Services Friches Urbaines et Sites Pollués, 20 Avenue du Grésillé, 49009 Angers Cedex, France
| | - Francis Douay
- Yncréa, ULR 4515, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement (LGCgE), Lille F- 59000, France
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Hechelski M, Louvel B, Dufrénoy P, Ghinet A, Waterlot C. The potential of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to clean up multi-contaminated soils from labile and phytoavailable potentially toxic elements to contribute into a circular economy. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:17489-17498. [PMID: 31020530 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05129-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aided phytoremediation was studied for 48 weeks with the aim of reducing extractable and phytoavailable toxic elements and producing potential marketable biomass. In this sense, biomass of ryegrass was produced under greenhouse on two contaminated garden soils that have been amended with two successive additions of phosphates. After the first addition of phosphates, seeds of ryegrass were sown and shoots were harvested twice. A second seedling was performed after carefully mixing the roots from the first production (used as compost), soils and phosphates. Forty-eight weeks after starting the experiments, the concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn extracted using the rhizosphere-based method were generally lower than those measured before the addition of phosphates and cultivation (except for Pb and Fe in the most contaminated soil). The concentrations of metals in the shoots of ryegrass from the second production were lower than those from the first (except for Al). The best results were obtained with phosphates and were the most relevant in the lowest contaminated soil, demonstrating that the available metal concentrations have to be taken into account in the management of contaminated soils. In view of the concentration of metals defined as carcinogens, mutagens, and reprotoxics (e.g., Cd, Pb) and those capable to be transformed into Lewis acids (e.g., Zn, Fe), the utilization of ryegrass in the revegetation of contaminated soils and in risk management may be a new production of marketable biomass. The development of phytomanagement in combination with this type of biomass coincided with the view that contaminated soils can still represent a valuable resource that should be used sustainably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Hechelski
- Laboratoire Génie Civil et géoEnvironnement (LGCgE), Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Institut Supérieur d'Agriculture, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Brice Louvel
- Laboratoire Génie Civil et géoEnvironnement (LGCgE), Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Institut Supérieur d'Agriculture, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
| | - Pierrick Dufrénoy
- Laboratoire de chimie durable et santé, Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Ecole des Hautes Etudes d'Ingénieur, 13 rue de Toul, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
- Normandie University, UNILEHAVRE, FR 3038 CNRS, URCOM, BP: 1123, 76600, Le Havre, France
- EA 3221, INC3M CNRS-FR 3038, UFR ST 25 rue Philipe Lebon, Cedex, 76063, Le Havre, France
| | - Alina Ghinet
- Laboratoire de chimie durable et santé, Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Ecole des Hautes Etudes d'Ingénieur, 13 rue de Toul, 59046, Lille Cedex, France
- Faculté de médecine - Pôle recherche Inserm U995, LIRIC, Université de Lille, CHU de Lille, Place Verdun, 59045, Lille Cedex, France
- Faculty of Chemistry, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I nr. 11, 700506, Iasi, Romania
| | - Christophe Waterlot
- Laboratoire Génie Civil et géoEnvironnement (LGCgE), Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Institut Supérieur d'Agriculture, 48 Boulevard Vauban, 59046, Lille Cedex, France.
- Equipe Biotechnologie et Gestion des Agents Pathogènes en agriculture (BIOGAP), Yncréa Hauts-de-France, Institut Supérieur d'Agriculture, 48 boulevard Vauban, 59046, Lille Cedex, France.
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