Haji Muhammad, Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Ayub and M Anwar Malik
Keywords: Hudiara drain, heavy metals, Brassica compestris.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake of heavy metals in a cash crop and vegetable, Brassica compestris irrigated by Hudiara drain. A survey was conducted along the whole length (55km) of Hudiara drain from Lallo village to Khurdpur village. Twenty nine samples of freshly plucked leaves of B. compestris were collected at three sites, Lallo village (Site 1), Mohlanwall (Site II) and Khurdpur village (Site III). Heavy metals like Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Fe and Zn were detected by PIXE technique from tender parts of B. compestris leaves of all samples. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in B. compestris leaves samples from Sites I, II and III were; Na (3053, 16941, 25025ppm), Mg (2668, 10826, 16158ppm), Al (1152, 4740, 27201ppm), K (35214, 104643, 112038ppm), Ca (13827, 49586, 110263ppm), Mn (0, 168, 244ppm), Fe 9277, 470,1615ppm) and Zn (223, 169, 179ppm). The heavy metals concentration in B. compestris increased from site I to site III gradually. The concentrations of heavy metals were significantly high in all samples, when compared to permissible International standards set by FAO/WHO, SEPA, and India. It is concluded that Hudiara drain is highly polluted due to the addition of untreated industrial effluents and city sewage both in India and Pakistan. The use of B. compestris grown on water from Hudiara Drain can have a very serious impact on human health and other organisms of the area.
[View Complete Article]