Cadmium contamination of soils and crops by long term use of raw effluent, ground and canal waters in agricultural lands

Water scarcity in agriculture sector forced farmers to use city wastewater without any regard of its quality effects on environment and resultant contamination of soils and plants, particularly with heavy metals. A survey of effluent, tube well and canal water irrigated areas in Faisalabad, Pakistan was conducted to appraise Cd concentration in these waters and soils, and its uptake by cereal and legume crops. Water, soil and plant (seeds, …