CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RISK OF CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION WHEN IRRIGATTING WITH WASTEWATER.

The main reason for heavy metals pollution in agriculture is the use of untreated industrial and municipal wastewater for irrigation, followed by the presence of these inorganic contaminants in products such as fertilizers and pesticides. Heavy metals from irrigation wastewater are easily transferred to the soil-crop-crop consumer system, posing severe threats to environmental sustainability, soil and human health. Heavy metals accumulated in the soil are toxic to microorganisms and disrupt the soil ecosystem. Leafy vegetables tend to accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals than other parts of the crop. After consumption, heavy metals accumulate in certain human organs and cause serious diseases. Emerging pollutants from the category of pharmaceutical products and pesticides are also found in the waste water, which are very difficult to eliminate through the classic purification procedures, and which are easily transferred and cause disturbances, especially in the aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, aspects related to the route of these contaminants from agriculture and their effects on the environment and health are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]