Humayun Bashir

Potential Toxic Metal Accumulation in Soil, Forage and Blood Plasma of Buffaloes Sampled from Jhang, Pakistan

This study was conducted to determine the concentration of toxic metals in soil, forage and blood plasma of lactating and non-lactating buffaloes in the district Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan. Soil samples were collected from varying distances from the road side. Plasma separation was achieved by centrifugation. The concentration of arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the study showed that the mean As, Se and Cd concentrations in soil samples were lower while Cr, Fe, Zn, Cu and Co were higher than the official guidelines. In plasma samples, mean concentration values of Co, Zn, Fe, Cd, Se and As were lower while Cu and Cr were higher than the recommended concentrations. According to the results of the study there was no potential exposure of toxicity in buffaloes of the study area.

Contamination of soil and carrots irrigated with different sources of water in Punjab, Pakistan

High levels of heavy metals in the vegetables are seriously influencing the ecosystem as well as causing many health glitches. Due to many factors like, discharge of untreated industrial effluent, mine tailing, fertilizer application and irrigation with different water sources, the levels of heavy metals increased in soils which further transferred in biological systems. The present study was designed to access bioconcentration of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, and Pb in soils and vegetables (carrots) irrigated with wastewater in Punjab, Pakistan. Result of the study showed that at both study sites concentrations of As and Cd were above the permissible maximum limits (PML). Similarly, concentrations of Mn, Ni, Mo, Cd, and Pb in the vegetable samples of both study sites were higher than maximum permissible limits. Overall, the accumulation of metals (Mn, Ni, Mo, Cd, and Pb) observed in carrots as well as in the soil was beyond the permissible limit that may cause human health disorders for their consumers.

Evaluation of heavy metals uptake by wheat growing in sewage water irrigated soil

ABSTRACT Present research work was carried out in Sahiwal, Sargodha, Pakistan. Diverse treatments of domestic wastewater were used for ascertaining the contamination level in grains of wheat crop. Food crop exposure to heavy metals has been a subject of great concern due to potential health risks to humans. It was observed that increased proportion of wastewater resulted in elevation of heavy metals both in soil and wheat grains. The iron was found to be higher in comparison to all other studied metals in soil. Similarly, wheat grains had high Cd level. Cadmium had the highest values for daily metal intake, health risk index, and pollution load index. Except Co, all metals were positively and significantly correlated between wheat grains and soil. Zinc had the highest bioavailability due to its highest bioconcentration factor. Value of enrichment factor was highest for Mn. It was thus concluded, on the basis of this study, that wastewater-irrigated crops accumulate more metals. Treatment of wastewater prior to application to plants must be commonly practiced to save crops from contamination.

Assessment of Macro Minerals and their Distribution and Concentration in Soil-Plant-Animal Systems in Shor Kot, Pakistan

One of themajor contributory sectors of agriculture in Pakistan is livestock sector. Contribution of livestock in GDP of the country is 12%.1 Several products likemeat,milk,manure and leather hide are obtained from livestock.2 Plants are the primary source of food for ruminants. Apart from fulfilling food needs, plants also provide adequate amounts ofminerals to the animals. Plants acquire theseminerals from soil. A complex interactive relationship occurs between soil, plants and animals. Hence,mineral status in these interdependent entitiesmust be ascertained for provision of balanced diet.3 Biomonitoring is necessary for regulating environmental stress triggered by upheavals inmineral concentrations.4