Abstract

LARA-VIVEROS, Francisco Marcelo et al. Cd an Pb content in soil and plants of different crops irrigated with wastewater in the Mezquital Valley, Hidalgo, Mexico. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.127-132. ISSN 0188-4999.

Heavy metals have had many industrial uses for hundreds of years and consequently these elements can be found in dangerous concentrations in the environment. Two of the most toxic metals are Cd and Zn that cause various human diseases. The Mesquital Valley region in the state of Hidalgo is characterized by the use of wastewater for agricultural purposes, but it is likely that these waters contain heavy metals that may be absorbed by plants through irrigation water. The aim of this work was to determine the Cd and Pb amount and their mobility within the plant. Two maize, two sunflower and one alfalfa variety including soil were sampled. The plants were cut and divided into three equal thirds and the concentrations of the two metals were determined in the soil and in each of the fractions in which the plant was divided. Corn Cd values were statistically equal in each of the three thirds (0.06 mg/kg), this value being lower than that observed in soil (0.09 mg/kg). The same behavior was observed in the case of Pb. The alfalfa Cd concentration in the plant was higher than that found in the soil (0.07 mg/kg in the first third of the plant and 0.03 mg/kg soil), while the lowest concentrations for both metals were found in the sunflower.

Keywords : heavy metals; absorption; soil contamination; toxicity.