Health risk assessment of textile effluent reuses as irrigation water in leafy vegetable Basella alba

Purpose The aim of this research was to assess the healthrisk of textile wastewater reuse as irrigation water on leafyvegetable (Basella alba) by comparing variable growth ratein different ration of wastewater and freshwater irrigationand assess their soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) and healthrisk index (HRI).Methods Pot experiments were laid out with five treatmentsincluding control with three replications with differentirrigation schemes with textile wastewater collectedfrom the untreated point source. The irrigation scheme was,100 % groundwater as control with four treatments as75 % groundwater: 25 % wastewater, 50 % groundwater:50 % wastewater, 25 % groundwater: 75 % wastewaterand 100 % wastewater.Results Soil-to-plant TF in different treatments includingcontrol were in the order of Pb (1.0–1.7)[Cu(1.3–1.5)[Cd (0.8–1.0)[Zn (0.1–1.1). TF values of Pband Cu in the range from 1 to 1.7 indicating theiraccumulation in B. alba plants and their potential healthrisk by dietary exposure. The HRI for individual metal aswell as cumulative HRI of the metals was less than unity(0.33) which indicated the consumption of the vegetableswas considered to be safe for one harvest.Conclusion Over many seasons of irrigation with wastewater,level of salinity and heavy metals can accumulate on theagriculture land and their long term consumption may link toa chronic health risk. Hence, consumption of these vegetableson regular basis should be avoided.