Toxicity Assessment and Accumulation of Metals in Radish Irrigated With Battery Manufacturing Industry Effluent

Abstract

Industrial wastewater is being used for irrigation of agricultural crops without consideration of possible toxic effects. The study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of battery manufacturing industry effluent on biochemical changes and heavy metal accumulation in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) grown on soil irrigated with 0% (tap water control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% effluent (v/v) at 60 days after sowing (DAS). Total metal concentration in raw effluent samples was Cr = 0.14 < Cd = 0.17 < Pb = 0.22 < Cu = 2.50 mg·L⁻¹. An increase in photosynthetic pigments of plants occurred up to the 50% concentration of the effluent followed by a decrease at higher concentrations. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in treated plants occurred, evident by an increased level of antioxidants, proline, cysteine, and ascorbic acid. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Cr, and Pb in roots of treated plants ranged between 4.17 and 7.44, 1.15 and 14.78, 1.09 and 12.30, and 2.49 and 7.33 μg·g⁻¹ dry weight and in shoots between 12.02 and 24.83, 3.37 and 34.94, 3.77 and 35.09, 3.97 and 10.86 μg·g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. Use of battery manufacturing effluent, even after treatment and subsequent dilution, caused biochemical changes in radish and resulted in accumulation of heavy metals in edible parts of the plant. Use of battery manufacturing effluent in agriculture should be discouraged.

Keywords:

• Raphanus sativus
• Heavy metals
• Antioxidant
• Bioaccumulation
• Lipid peroxidation