Search

One of the most pressing environmental issues is how to properly dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW), which represents both a substantial source of concern and a challenge. The current study evaluated cobalt (Co) accumulation in MSW, their uptake by different vegetables grown for two years, and related human health risks. Vegetables were grown in four different groups, such as one control (ground soil), and the remaining treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3) received varying concentrations of MSW. The analysis of Co was done through an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results revealed that the concentration of Co was higher in all the vegetables (n = 15) grown in soil supplemented with 75% MSW during 2nd growing year. Among all vegetables, the highest concentration of Co was observed in Solanum tuberosum at T3 during 2nd growing year. The pollution load index (PLI) value for vegetables during both growing years was more than 1 except in control soil. The findings indicated that the highest enrichment factor (EF) and hazard resilience index (HRI) value of 0.09 was present in S. tuberosum. Health index values for cobalt in the study were below 1. The HRI < 1 indicated that consumers do not face any immediate health risks. The investigation of Co concentrations in blood samples obtained from individuals residing in different areas contributes a human health perspective to the research. The findings indicate that the concentration of Co rises with an increasing proportion of MSW. While the metal levels in MSW-treated soil were not high enough to classify the soil as polluted, the results recommend that recycling MSW can substitute mineral fertilizers. Nevertheless, the presence of cobalt in MSW may directly affect soil fertility and could impact crop production and human health., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The primary objective of this study was to determine the heavy metal contents in the water-soil-coriander samples in an industrial wastewater irrigated area and to assess the health risks of these metals to consumers. Sampling was done from areas adjoining the Chistian sugar mill district Sargodha and two separate sites irrigated with groundwater (Site 1), and sugar mill effluents (Site 2) were checked for possible metal contamination. The water-soil-coriander continuum was tested for the presence of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). The mean concentrations of all metals were higher than the permissible limits for all studied metals except for Mn in the sugar mill wastewater, with Fe (8.861 mg/L) and Zn (9.761 mg/L) exhibiting the highest values. The mean levels of Fe (4.023 mg/kg), Cd (2.101 mg/kg), Cr (2.135 mg/kg), Cu (2.180 mg/kg), and Ni (1.523 mg/kg) were high in the soil at Site 2 in comparison to the groundwater irrigated site where Fe (3.232 mg/kg) and Cd (1.845 mg/kg) manifested high elemental levels. For coriander specimens, only Cd had a higher mean level in both the groundwater (1.245 mg/kg) and the sugar mill wastewater (1.245 mg/kg) irrigated sites. An estimation of the pollution indices yielded a high risk from Cd (health risk index (HRI): 173.2), Zn (HRI: 7.012), Mn (HRI: 6.276), Fe (HRI: 1.709), Cu (HRI: 1.282), and Ni (HRI: 1.009), as all values are above 1.0 indicating a hazard to human health from consuming coriander irrigated with wastewater. Regular monitoring of vegetables irrigated with wastewater is strongly advised to reduce health hazards to people.

Cobalt metal is considered as an essential trace element for the animals. Present investigation was undertaken in the peri-urban area to analyze the cobalt availability in animal food chain by using different indices. Cow, buffalo and sheep samples along with forage and soil samples were collected from the three different sites of District Jhang and analyzed through atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Cobalt values differed in soil samples as 0.315-0.535 mg/kg, forages as 0.127-0.333 mg/kg and animal samples as 0.364-0.504 mg/kg. Analyzed cobalt concentration in soil, forage and animal samples was found to be deficient in concentration with respect to standard limits. Soil showed the minimum cobalt level in Z. mays while maximum concentration was examined in the forage C. decidua samples. All indices examined in this study has values lesser than 1, representing the safer limits of the cobalt concentration in these samples. Enrichment factor (0.071-0.161 mg/kg) showed the highly deficient amount of cobalt enrichment in this area. Bio-concentration factor (0.392-0.883) and pollution load index (0.035-0.059 mg/kg) values were also lesser than 1 explains that plant and soil samples are not contaminated with cobalt metal. The daily intake and health risk index ranged from 0.00019-0.00064 mg/kg/day and 0.0044-0.0150 mg/kg/day respectively. Among the animals, cobalt availability was maximum (0.0150 mg/kg/day) in the buffaloes that grazed on the C. decidua fodder. Results of this study concluded that cobalt containing fertilizers must be applied on the soil and forages. Animal feed derived from the cobalt containing supplements are supplied to the animals, to fulfill the nutritional requirements of livestock.

The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) network is composed of WRKY TFs' subset, which performs a critical role in immunity regulation of plants. However, functions of WRKY TFs' network remain unclear, particularly in non-model plants such as pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.). This study functionally characterized CaWRKY30-a member of group III Pepper WRKY protein-for immunity of pepper against Ralstonia solanacearum infection. The CaWRKY30 was detected in nucleus, and its transcriptional expression levels were significantly upregulated by R. solanacearum inoculation (RSI), and foliar application ethylene (ET), abscisic acid (ABA), and salicylic acid (SA). Virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) of CaWRKY30 amplified pepper's vulnerability to RSI. Additionally, the silencing of CaWRKY30 by VIGS compromised HR-like cell death triggered by RSI and downregulated defense-associated marker genes, like CaPR1 , CaNPR1 , CaDEF1 , CaABR1 , CaHIR1 , and CaWRKY40 . Conversely, transient over-expression of CaWRKY30 in pepper leaves instigated HR-like cell death and upregulated defense-related maker genes. Furthermore, transient over-expression of CaWRKY30 upregulated transcriptional levels of CaWRKY6 , CaWRKY22 , CaWRKY27 , and CaWRKY40 . On the other hand, transient over-expression of CaWRKY6 , CaWRKY22 , CaWRKY27 , and CaWRKY40 upregulated transcriptional expression levels of CaWRKY30 . The results recommend that newly characterized CaWRKY30 positively regulates pepper's immunity against Ralstonia attack, which is governed by synergistically mediated signaling by phytohormones like ET, ABA, and SA, and transcriptionally assimilating into WRKY TFs networks, consisting of CaWRKY6 , CaWRKY22 , CaWRKY27 , and CaWRKY40 . Collectively, our data will facilitate to explicate the underlying mechanism of crosstalk between pepper's immunity and response to RSI.

This investigation was done for the assurance of potassium amassing in four assortments of maize (grains, shoot and root), soil, and water and in seven tissues of chickens (kidney, liver, heart, bone, gizzard, breast meat). The analysis of variance showed significant differences for potassium concentration in water in all sources of water; however, the season and variety significantly influenced the quantity of potassium in cereals. The corn varieties MMRI, Sadaf, and Pearl behaved differently when treated with water from various sources. Water taken from sewage had a higher concentration of potassium compared to canal and groundwater that is why the maize plants irrigated with this water had a higher grouping. Data regarding potassium concentration in different body parts of chicken showed that season and treatment have a significant effect on the potassium concentration in chicken organs. The variety was non-significant for the potassium concentration only in the bone. Season × Variety interaction was only significant in blood, meat heart, and gizzard. Season × Treatment and Variety × Treatment interactions were significant in the heart, kidney, and gizzard. The potassium contents were higher in the chicken body parts that were reared on grains irrigated with sewage water as compared to other groups. The potassium contents were higher in the chicken meat (96.23 ± 0.00) reared on grains of the Pearl variety raised with the sewage water. In a nutshell, the irrigation of grains with sewage water led to accumulation of nutrients greater than those irrigated with ground or canal water., (© 2021. This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

In the present study, the outcome of sewage, canal, and ground water on the chromium (Cr) concentration in corn and ultimately in chicken body parts was reported. To evaluate Cr level, atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer AA 6300, Shimadzu Japan) was used. The highest level of Cr in grains (0.50 ± 0.05 mg/kg), shoots (0.90 ± 0.01 mg/kg), and roots (1.01 ± 0.02 mg/kg) were noticed in the Sadaf variety watered with canal water. The least concentration of Cr was recorded in grains (0.07 ± 0.01 mg/kg), shoots (0.59 ± 0.01 mg/kg), and roots (0.71 ± 0.01 mg/kg) of Pearl variety irrigated with ground water. The maximum concentration of chromium in the blood (1.68 ± 0.02 mg/kg) and bones (1.26 ± 0.24 mg/kg) was observed in chicks fed on Millet Research Institute (MMRI) grains reared with the sewage water. The lowest concentration was observed in the blood (1.60 ± 0.04 mg/kg) and in bone (0.80 ± 0.01 mg/kg) of the chicks fed Pearl variety grains reared with canal water. In the second experiment, the maximum content of Cr was determined in the blood (0.74 ± 0.04 mg/kg) and bones (1.76 ± 0.02 ppm) of chicks consuming Sadaf variety grains reared with canal water and the least concentration in the blood (0.26 ± 0.03 mg/kg) and bones (1.64 ± 0.01 mg/kg) was determined on the consumption of the Pearl variety grains reared with ground water. A similar trend was observed in other body organs. It was concluded that polluted water causes higher accumulation levels of Cr in plant parts and even in animals' body parts after the utilization of such plants.

A mineral assessment study for dairy buffaloes, Nili-Ravi breed, was carried out seasonally at silvopasture farm at Sargodha, Pakistan. Sampling for soil, forage, and buffalo serum was done seasonally for a period of 1 year for mineral (P, Mg, Na, K, Ca) evaluation. In the study, experiments on forages showed significant differences in mean concentrations of Mg and P with changing seasons, whereas the values for Ca, Mg, Na, and K did not vary significantly. Three groups of buffaloes were checked for mineral concentration in blood serum, viz., calves, lactating and non-lactating. Ca mean concentration varied significantly for non-lactating buffaloes and calves between two seasons. Na mean level showed a significant difference for two sampling seasons among calves and lactating buffaloes. Mean level for Mg only differed significantly in serum of non-lactating buffaloes between the two seasons. Mean levels for Ca and P in soil and forage remained higher than the optimal level, whereas soil Na was below the critical level. K concentrations in soil and blood serum were above the critical level, while Mg levels remained below the optimal range in soil, forage, and blood serum. K concentration in forage remained below the optimal level. All buffalo categories displayed lower levels of Ca and P in serum. Na concentration in forage and serum exceeded the critical level. Furthermore, Ca yielded significant and positive correlation between soil and serum level, whereas K had significant but negative correlation for soil-forage and forage-serum. Overall, it was determined that P deficiency existed among buffaloes, which could be improved via supplementation. Similarly, K deficiency and Mg deficiency were exhibited for forage and soil respectively which could be countered through addition of fertilizers rich for these minerals. In brief, the mineral utilization of buffaloes is affected by reduced availability of essential nutrients and may result in lower productivity. It is suggested to add mineral supplementation in addition to natural diet of buffaloes to enhance the productivity of these animals.

The study was carried out to evaluate the health risks associated with accumulation of cadmium in the different genotypes of wheat, grown in agricultural regions of Punjab, Pakistan. Five genotypes irrigated with three varied water sources were selected randomly from each region. Among all sources of water, types of soil, and grain samples, the cadmium (Cd) quantities were found (2.24-2.82 mg/L, 1.75-4.16 mg/kg, 0.86-1.90, respectively), exceeding the maximum permissible limits (0.01 mg/L, 1.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, respectively) described by FAO/WHO. The pollution load index (PLI) exhibited by all of the samples was higher than 1.00, the permissible limit; however, other factors including bioaccumulation, translocation, bio-concentration, daily intake, and enrichment values of Cd were less than 1.00. Moreover, the health risk index for cadmium in all types of wheat grain samples was less than 1.00. The study concluded that the continuous use of wastewater resources may lead to the accumulation of cadmium in the vital body organs that may cause severe health hazards.

At present, the forage production is the foundation of beef cattle and sheep industries in graziery. This study was designed to assess the toxic metal composition of the conventional pastures and non-conventional pastures in consideration of mineral needs of ruminants. At all the surveyed sites, these mean soil metal concentrations were measured to be higher or lower than the referred threshold levels. Specifically, these concentrations of Co, Pb, and Cr were observed as much higher than the referred threshold levels of 0.01-0.06 mg/kg (Co), 0.05 mg/kg (Pb), and 0.02 mg/kg (Cr). On the contrary, the mean soil concentrations of Cd were observed to be relatively lower than the threshold levels of 0.50-10 mg/kg at all sites. The estimated mean concentrations of Co, Cd, Pb, and Cr in both conventional and non-conventional forage species were measured to be lower than the referred threshold levels. The supplementation of these metals for livestock grazing from pasture was unnecessary based on these findings. However, further research should be conducted for ecological safety and conservation of ruminant forages, so that both the conventional and non-conventional pastures are employed as livestock friendly consuming forages.

The present investigation was performed in different district of Punjab to determine the chromium level in soil, forages, and blood plasma of the small ruminants (goat and sheep). The results showed that the mean concentrations of chromium in the soil of Sargodha, Mianwali, and Bhakkar districts were ranged from 1.8 to 2.3, 3.01 to 4.99, and 2.04 to 2.87 mg/kg, respectively. The chromium level was higher in Mianwali compared with Sargodha and Bhakkar. The mean concentrations of chromium in forages which were used for feeding purposes were found between 0.672 and 1.631, 1.493 and 2.612, and 0.7804 and 1.047 mg/kg for Sargodha, Mianwali, and Bhakkar, respectively. The mean concentrations of chromium in blood plasma of goat which consumed the contaminated forages were between 0.666 and 1.269 mg/L in Sargodha, 0.657 and 0.752 mg/L in Mianwali, and 1.39 and 2.37 mg/L in Bhakkar. In blood plasma of sheep, the residual levels of chromium in the districts Sargodha, Mianwali, and Bhakkar were ranged from 0.673 to 1.384, 0.83 to 1.086, and 1.496 to 3.611 mg/L, respectively. In the present research, there was a higher concentration of chromium in blood plasma of sheep from Bhakkar and the lowest was in Sargodha. The chromium level in blood samples was found to be higher than the tolerable level of 1.0 mg/L in all districts. In light of these results, it was concluded that chromium levels in the soil and forages of all sites were present within the safe limit while in blood samples of sheep and goats were found to be above the acceptable limit. Sheep and goats also consume water from river, streams, and ponds and other contaminated water sources. So it might be the reason of higher level of chromium in their blood plasma. Hence, the proper monitoring of study sites will be necessary to prevent the excessive accumulation of chromium in ruminants in the near future.

This study focused on evaluating the metal and metalloid contamination and associated risks in the two vegetables crops, coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) treated with three water regimes, canal water, groundwater and municipal wastewater. These vegetables are widely consumed by people and are also used in traditional medicine for treating various disorders. Metal and metalloid accumulation (Zn, Pb, Se, Cu, As, Mo, Fe, Ni) was found higher in vegetables treated with wastewater. Wastewater treated soil had high pollution load index. Fe, Zn, As and Pb had higher values in water, soil and vegetables as compared to other studied metals. Overall, metal correlation for soil and vegetables was significant and positive except for Fe and Cu in spinach. The highest value for daily metal intake was estimated for Fe while Se had the lowest value for the same index. It was thus concluded that trace metal and metalloid accumulation was a major health concern for the public consuming these vegetables.