Assessment of soil contamination with lead and cadmium under the influence of urban wastewater application in fields under coriander plants

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

2 Assistant professor of Soil Science, faculty of agriculture, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

3 Associate Professor Department of Soil Science, Faculty of agriculture, Khuzestan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

High potential of the Weiss region for agricultural production and consequently, the impact of urban wastewater and agricultural activities, such as the use of various chemical fertilizers and pesticides, on the quality of soil, plants, and ultimately human health, reveals the need to do this research. This study aimed to investigate the effect of urban wastewater on the accumulation of lead and cadmium metals in fields under coriander plants. Random soil and plant samples were taken from an area irrigated with ground water and an area irrigated with wastewater. Soil and plant samples were digested after harvesting and heavy metals were measured using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The results showed that wastewater did not have a significant effect on the accumulation of lead and cadmium metals in soil. Although the concentrations of lead and cadmium in the soil irrigated with wastewater were higher than in the control soil (soil irrigated with ground water), the average concentrations of these metals in the soil irrigated with wastewater were lower than the international standard (FAO/WHO). Also, the concentration of cadmium in plants in soil irrigated with wastewater was lower than the standard, and the concentration of lead in plants was higher than the international standard. Since the average concentration of lead in coriander in the area irrigated with wastewater is higher than the standard, in order to prevent problems and protect the health of citizens, necessary planning should be implemented to reduce heavy metals in wastewater.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 June 2026

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