Phytoavailability of cadmium (Cd) to Pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) grown in Chinese soils: a model to evaluate the impact of soil Cd pollution on potential dietary toxicity.
Food chain contamination by soil cadmium (Cd) through vegetable consumption poses a threat to human health. Therefore, an understanding is needed on the relationship between the phytoavailability of Cd in soils and its uptake in edible tissues of vegetables. The purpose of this study was to establish soil Cd thresholds of representative Chinese soils based on dietary toxicity to humans and develop a model to evaluate the phytoavailability of Cd to Pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) based on soil properties. Mehlich-3 extractable Cd thresholds were more suitable for Stagnic Anthrosols, Calcareous, Ustic Cambosols, Typic Haplustalfs, Udic Ferrisols and Periudic Argosols with values of 0.30, 0.25, 0.18, 0.16, 0.15 and 0.03 mg kg-1, respectively, while total Cd is adequate threshold for Mollisols with a value of 0.86 mg kg-1. A stepwise regression model indicated that Cd phytoavailability to Pak choi was significantly influenced by soil pH, organic matter, total Zinc and Cd concentrations in soil. Therefore, since Cd accumulation in Pak choi varied with soil characteristics, they should be considered while assessing the environmental quality of soils to ensure the hygienically safe food production.
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad Tariq
MT
Rafiq
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Rukhsanda
R
Aziz
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Xiaoe
X
Yang
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Wendan
W
Xiao
Indian River Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Fort Pierce, Florida, United States of America.
Peter J
PJ
Stoffella
Institute of Statistics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Aamir
A
Saghir
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Muhammad
M
Azam
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Tingqiang
T
Li
D001692:Biological Transport; D001937:Brassica / Q000378:metabolism*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D020387:Food Chain; D005506:Food Contamination; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D015032:Zinc