Heavy metal(loid)s accumulation and human health risk assessment in wheat after long-term application of various urban and rural organic fertilizers.

Abstract

Composting urban and rural wastes into organic fertilizers for land application is considered the best way to dispose of and recycle waste resources. However, there are some concerns about the long-term effects of applying various organic fertilizers on soils, food safety, and health risks derived from heavy metal(loid)s (HMs). A long-term field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous application of chicken manure compost (CM), sewage sludge compost (SSC), and domestic waste compost (DWC) for wheat on the accumulation, transfer, and health risks of HMs. The results revealed that, compared with control or chemical fertilizer treatments, continuous application of CM raised the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in topsoil by 29 %-38 %, 15 %-16 %,11 %-14 %, and 20 %-36 %, respectively; SSC increased the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), Cu, and Zn by 18 %-26 %, 8 %-9 %, 310 %-329 %, 5 %-8 %, 17 %-21 %, and 19 %-35 %, respectively; and DWC elevated the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Hg, lead (Pb), and Zn by 20 %-28 %, 8 %-9 %, 118 %-118 %, 5 %-10 %, and 3 %-17 %. The HMs concentrations in wheat grain were almost unaffected by the application of the organic fertilizers except for Hg and Pb concentrations. However, the HMs concentrations in both soil and wheat grain remained far below the limits of regulation in China. The long-term application of organic fertilizers did not cause additional noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with exposure to HMs. In conclusion, although the long-term application of various urban and rural organic fertilizers increased the concentrations of several HMs in the soil, it almost did not cause any additional adverse effects on wheat grain or increase the health risks.