Contaminant uptake in wastewater irrigated tomatoes

Kovačič, Ana (author), Andreasidou, Eirini (author), Brus, Anže (author), Vehar, Anja (author), Potočnik, Doris (author), Jagodic Hudobivnik, Marta (author), Heath, David John (author), Pintar, Marina (author), Kacjan-Maršić, Nina (author), Ogrinc, Nives (author), Blaznik, Urška (author), Heath, Ester (author)

As population growth and climate change add to the problem of water scarcity in many regions, the argument for using treated wastewater for irrigation is becoming increasingly compelling, which makes understanding the risks associated with the uptake of harmful chemicals by crops crucial. In this study, the uptake of 14 chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) and 27 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was studied in tomatoes grown in soil-less (hydroponically) and soil (lysimeters) media irrigated with potable and treated wastewater using LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS. Bisphenol S, 2,4 bisphenol F, and naproxen were detected in fruits irrigated with spiked potable water and wastewater under both conditions, with BPS having the highest concentration (0.034–0.134 µg kg$^{−1}$ f. w.). The levels of all three compounds were statistically more significant in tomatoes grown hydroponically (<LOQ - 0.137 µg kg$^{−1}$ f. w.) than in soil (<LOQ - 0.083 µg kg$^{−1}$ f. w.). Their elemental composition shows differences between tomatoes grown hydroponically or in soil and tomatoes irrigated with wastewater and potable water. Contaminants at determined levels showed low dietary chronic exposure. When the health-based guidance values for the studied CECs are determined, results from this study will be helpful for risk assessors.

• Language: English
• Keywords: chemicals of emerging concern, elements, hydroponics, lysimeters, health risk assessment, tomatoes, uptake, treated wastewater, reuse
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 11 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 448, art. 130964
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-148643
• UDC: 502.131.1
• ISSN on article: 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130964
• COBISS.SI-ID: 141167619
• Publication date in RUL: 28.08.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of hazardous materials
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1873-3336
• COBISS.SI-ID: 23154693

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: zaskrbljujoča nova onesnažila, elementi, ocena tveganja za zdravje, absorpcija, prečiščene odpadne vode, ponovna uporaba, paradižnik, rastlina, hidroponika, lizimetri, tveganje za zdravje