Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt
There is consensus on the impact of wastewater irrigation on soil properties and heavy metal accumulation. The studies that show the impact of temporal changes as a result of different long-term additions of wastewater on the heavy metal accumulation and degradation of soil are extremely limited. Th...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| author | Manal A. Alnaimy Sahar A. Shahin Zuzana Vranayova Martina Zelenakova Enas Mohamed Wagdi Abdel-Hamed |
| author_facet | Manal A. Alnaimy Sahar A. Shahin Zuzana Vranayova Martina Zelenakova Enas Mohamed Wagdi Abdel-Hamed |
| author_sort | Manal A. Alnaimy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is consensus on the impact of wastewater irrigation on soil properties and heavy metal accumulation. The studies that show the impact of temporal changes as a result of different long-term additions of wastewater on the heavy metal accumulation and degradation of soil are extremely limited. This study was carried out to assess heavy metal contamination in soils irrigated with wastewater for more than 30 years in Egypt. A total number of 12 irrigation water samples and 12 soil profiles were collected during 2020 and were chemically characterized. The results showed that soils irrigated with wastewater over the long term contained significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals compared to fields irrigated with fresh water. Heavy metal levels in water and soil samples were within the permissible limits, with the exception of Cd concentration in water (0.03 mg L<sup>−1</sup>). Continuous cultivation for a long period of time (30 years) using raw urban wastewater application has led to the adverse effect of increasingly available Pb concentration (5.44 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>). Similar temporal behavior was seen for Cd and Fe, which increased by 0.98 and 11.2 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, after 30 years. The heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated soils significantly increased in clayey soils, as compared to sandy soils irrigated from the same source. Our findings provide important information for decision makers in Egypt and similar countries for the development of a strategy for the use of wastewater in irrigation for sustainable agricultural management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:18:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb25ad41055444448755ebe7d64f73bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:18:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb25ad41055444448755ebe7d64f73bd2023-11-22T10:14:53ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-08-011316224510.3390/w13162245Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from EgyptManal A. Alnaimy0Sahar A. Shahin1Zuzana Vranayova2Martina Zelenakova3Enas Mohamed Wagdi Abdel-Hamed4Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, EgyptSoils and Water Use Department, Agriculture and Biological Division, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, EgyptDepartment of Building Facilities, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, 04200 Kosice, SlovakiaDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, 04200 Kosice, SlovakiaSoil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, EgyptThere is consensus on the impact of wastewater irrigation on soil properties and heavy metal accumulation. The studies that show the impact of temporal changes as a result of different long-term additions of wastewater on the heavy metal accumulation and degradation of soil are extremely limited. This study was carried out to assess heavy metal contamination in soils irrigated with wastewater for more than 30 years in Egypt. A total number of 12 irrigation water samples and 12 soil profiles were collected during 2020 and were chemically characterized. The results showed that soils irrigated with wastewater over the long term contained significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals compared to fields irrigated with fresh water. Heavy metal levels in water and soil samples were within the permissible limits, with the exception of Cd concentration in water (0.03 mg L<sup>−1</sup>). Continuous cultivation for a long period of time (30 years) using raw urban wastewater application has led to the adverse effect of increasingly available Pb concentration (5.44 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>). Similar temporal behavior was seen for Cd and Fe, which increased by 0.98 and 11.2 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, after 30 years. The heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated soils significantly increased in clayey soils, as compared to sandy soils irrigated from the same source. Our findings provide important information for decision makers in Egypt and similar countries for the development of a strategy for the use of wastewater in irrigation for sustainable agricultural management.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/16/2245wastewaterheavy metalssoil pollutionsoil salinizationarid and semiarid regions |
| spellingShingle | Manal A. Alnaimy Sahar A. Shahin Zuzana Vranayova Martina Zelenakova Enas Mohamed Wagdi Abdel-Hamed Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt Water wastewater heavy metals soil pollution soil salinization arid and semiarid regions |
| title | Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt |
| title_full | Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt |
| title_fullStr | Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt |
| title_short | Long-Term Impact of Wastewater Irrigation on Soil Pollution and Degradation: A Case Study from Egypt |
| title_sort | long term impact of wastewater irrigation on soil pollution and degradation a case study from egypt |
| topic | wastewater heavy metals soil pollution soil salinization arid and semiarid regions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/16/2245 |
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