Heavy metal uptake of corn irrigated with human urine

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/11/2017
Views (351) Download (31)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Heavy metal uptake of corn irrigated with human urine

Horacio Factura, Cordulo Ascaňo, Dennis Apuan, Ralf Otterpohl
J. Bio. Env. Sci.11( 5), 56-62, November 2017.
Certificate: JBES 2017 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

The ground, infiltration of liquid effluent into the soil can continuously occur. Poor sanitation systems permit the spread of heavy metals in urine to water bodies especially the groundwater. This study investigated the accumulation of heavy metals in shoots of corn plants irrigated with urine. A pot experiment with corn was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Urine was diluted to 3:1 ratio (water and urine respectively) and was compared to control (water only). Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), heavy metals such as Boron, Barium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, Silicon, Strontium and Zinc were detected in shoots of all plants with contents ranging from 0.22 to 2,487.44 milligram (mg) per kilogram (kg). The higher amounts detected in urine irrigated plants than the control proved the presence of the metals in the urine. Reuse of urine will definitely benefit farmers while at the same time reduce the risk of heavy metal contamination in groundwater.

VIEWS 11

Antonious GF, Dennis SO, Unrine JM, Snyder JC. 2011. Heavy Metals Uptake in Plant Parts of Sweet potato Grown in Soil Fertilized with Municipal Sewage Sludge. International Journal of Geology Issue 1(5), 2011.

Cornelis R, Heinzow B, Herber RFM, Molin Christensen J, Paulsen OM, Sabbion E, Templeton DM, Thomassen Y, Vahter Vesterberg O. 1995. Sample Collection Guidelines for Trace Elements in Blood and Urine. Pure & Applied Chemistry, 67(8-9), 1575-1608.

Cu NX. 2015. Effect of Heavy Metals on Plant Growth and Ability to Use Fertilizing Substances to Reduce Heavy Meta Accumulation by Brassica  Juncea L. Czern. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research: D Agriculture and Veterinary, 15(3), Version 1.0 Year 2015.

Eco San Club. 2010. Use of Urine. Sustainable Sanitation Practice. Müllegger, E., Langergraber, G., and Lechner, M. Issuue 3/2010.

Factura H, Bettendorf T, Buzie C, Pieplow H,  Reckin J, Otterpohl R. 2010. Terra Preta Sanitation: Re-Discovered from an Ancient Amazonian Civilization. Water Science & Technology, 61(10), 2673-2679. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.201.

Factura H, Medalla J, Masgon M, Miso A,  Itchon G, Gensch R, Buzie C, Otterpohl R. 2014. The Implementation and Practices of Terra Preta Sanitation in the Tropics–The Experiences from Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Terra Preta Sanitation, Ed. Betterndorf T, Wendland C, Otterpohl R. Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, ISBN 978-3-00-046586-4.

Fujimori E, Sawatari H, Chiba K, Haraguchi, 1996. Determination of Minor and Trace Elements in Urine Reference Sample by a Combined System of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. Analytical Sciences, 12, 465-470.

Gensch R, Miso A, Itchon G. 2011. Urine as Liquid Fertilizer in Agricultural Production in the Philippines – a practical field guide, Xavier University Press, ISBN 978-971-9094-11-1.

Graham JP, Matthew L, Polizzotto ML. 2013. Pit Latrines and Their Impacts on Groundwater Quality: A Systematic Review. Environ Health Perspect; May 2013, 121(5). http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206028,

Höglund C. 2001. Evaluation of microbial health risks associated with the reuse of sourceseparatedhuman urine. PhD thesis, Department of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN 91-7283-039-5.

Langergrabera G, Muelleggera E. 2005. Ecological Sanitation—a way to solve global sanitation problems? Environment International 31(2005), 433– 444. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2004.08.006

Mc Quillan D. 2004. Ground-Water Quality Impacts From On-Site Septic Systems, In Proceedings, National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, 13th Annual Conference Albuquerque, NM, November 7-10, 2004

Mogol G. 2008. Environmental and Occupational Health. Making sanitation A Priority: Successes and Challenges at the Local Level, Proceedings of the Visayas-Mindanao Regional Sanitation Summit, April 2-3, 2008, Dumaguete City, Center for Local and Regional Governance, Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer  Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH, 35-40.

Mohod CV, Dhote J. 2013. Review of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water and Their Effect on Human Health. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology,  2(7), July 2013, ISSN: 2319-8753, 2992-2996 P.

Morgan PSEI. 2004. The Usefulness of Urine www.ecosanres.org/pdf_files/PM_Report/Chapter_10_The_usefuln.

Muskolus A. 2008. Anthropogenic Plant Nutrients as Fertilizers. PhD Thesis, Institut fur Pflanzenbauwissenschaften, Landwirtschaftlich- Gartnerischen Fakultatder Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany

Nouri J, Khorasani N, Lorestani B. 2009. Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and uptakeby plant species with phytoremediation potential. Environ Earth Sci (2009) 59, 315–323, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0028-2

Opaluwa Da O, Aremu Oa M, Ogbo Ob L, Abiola Ab K, Odiba Ec I, Abubakar Ma M, Nweze NO. 2012. Heavy metal concentrations in soils, plant leaves and crops grown around dump sites in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Advances in Applied Science Research, 2012, 3(2), 780-784. ISSN: 0976-8610.

Otterpohl R. 2000. Design of Highly Efficient Source Control Sanitation and Practical Experiences, EURO-Summer School DESAR, June 18-23 2000, Wageningen, The Netherlands, https://cgi.tuharburg.de/~awwweb/susan/downloads/desar.pdf

Otterpohl R, Braun U, Oldenburg M. 2002. Innovative Technologies for Decentralised Wastewater Management in Urban and Peri-urban Areas, 5th Specialised Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems, Istanbul-Turkey, 24-26 September 2002, 27-36 P.

Page V, Feller U. 2015.  Heavy Metals in Crop Plants: Transport and Redistribution Processes on the Whole Plant Level. Agronomy 2015, 5, 447-463;ISSN 2073-4395. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy5030447

Roncesvalles JR. 2008. Towards Providing Sustainable Sewerage and Septage Management Services, Making sanitation A Priority: Successes and Challenges at the Local Level, Proceedings of the Visayas-Mindanao Regional Sanitation Summit, April 2-3, 2008, Dumaguete City, Center for Local and Regional Governance, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH, 42-45 p.

Science for Environment Policy. 2013. Vegetables can absorb heavy metals from contaminated irrigation water. European Commission DG Environment News Alert Service, SCU, The University of the West of England, Bristol.Issue 336, 11 July 2013.

Tilley E, Ulrich L, Lüthi C, Reymond PH, Zurbrügg C. 2014. Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies (2 ed.). Dübendorf, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). ISBN 978-3-906484-57-0.

Zeiner M, Ovari M, Zaray GY, Steffan I. 2004. Reference Concentrationsof Trace Elements in Urineof the Budapestian Population. Biological Trace Element Research 107 101, 107-115.

World Health Organization. 2006. World Health Organization Guidelines for the Safe Use of Wastewater, Excreta and Greywater, IV, (accessed: October 1, 2017) www.whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241546824_eng.pdf

World Health Organization. 2015. World Health Organization Sanitation Fact sheet No 392. June 2015 (accessed: October 1, 2017). www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs392/en/

World Bank Group. 2016.  Toilet Options – PitLatrines (accessed: October 1, 2017). www.water.worldbank.org/shw-resource guide/infrastructure/menu-technical-options/pit-latrines