ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Examining Total Concentration and Sequential
Extraction of Heavy Metals in Agricultural
Soil and Wheat
Mohammad Reza Rezaei Kahkha1, Somaye Bagheri2, Roghayeh Noori3, Jamshid Piri4, Safoura Javan5
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1Departement of Environmental Health Engineering, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
2Department of Biostatics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health,
Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
3Department of Soil and Water Faculty of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran 4Department of Health, Neyshabour University of Medical Science, Neyshabur, Iran
Submission date: 2016-10-01
Final revision date: 2016-11-30
Acceptance date: 2016-12-12
Online publication date: 2017-08-28
Publication date: 2017-09-28
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2017;26(5):2021-2028
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ABSTRACT
Soil contamination by heavy metals not only directly affects soil physical and chemical properties,
reduces biological activity, and reduces soil biological nutrient achievement, but also is considered a serious
risk to human health by entering the food chain and environmental security through penetrating groundwater.
In this study we examined the concentrations and sequential extractions of such heavy metals as iron, lead,
copper, zinc, and nickel in soil and wheat in the central part of Sistan, Iran. 160 soil samples and 160 samples
of wheat from 20 specified units of soil of agricultural land of central Sistan were randomly sampled. The
values of iron, lead, zinc, nickel, and copper were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry according
to the standard method. Average concentrations of iron, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead in terms of mg/kg,
respectively, were 9,647.34, 18.56, 7.26, 19.80, and 29.90. After examination of sequential extraction, the
metals’ mobilities were as follows: iron (99%)> nickel (33%)> copper (31%)> lead (27%)> zinc (6%).
Wheat measurement results showed that metal accumulation in wheat grain was less than other parts. And
also the comparison with the standard shows that the values of the metals in agricultural soil in the area were
below the World Health Organization standard and in this sense there is nothing wrong with the health of
the soil.