Potential Arsenic Enrichment Problems of Rice and Vegetable Crops

Abstract

Elevated arsenic level in ground water has emerged as extreme calamity exposing a large
population in to the risk of arsenic toxicity from drinking water sources and agricultural products,
especially through ground water irrigation. Arsenic concentration of irrigated groundwater, soil, crops and
vegetables were assessed in high arsenic affected blocks of Nadia district. Consumption of arsenic
contaminated drinking water is the primary route of exposure, along with food as additional source.
Arsenic concentrations in irrigation water, field soil and in different parts of grown crops have been
assessed to show the bioaccumulation level of arsenic in food chain. Arsenic in irrigated water ranges from
0.23 to 0.73 mg L-1and 3.58 to 8.50 mg Kg -1 of dry weight in irrigated soil. Inorganic arsenic concentration
in various edible and useful parts of rice plants in our experiment are in the order of 2.52 1 to 5.97 mg Kg -1
of dry weight in straw; 0.71 to 1.79 mg Kg -1 of dry weight in husk and 0.10 to 0.81mg Kg -1 of dry weight in
rice grain. Higher range of arsenic is assessed in the rabi season vegetables like in spinach 0.96 to 1.63 mg
Kg -1 of dry weight, 0.051 to 1.14 mg Kg -1 of dry weight in tomato fruit, and 1.45 to 3.24 mg Kg -1 of dry
weight in Bengal gram. Relationships among ground water arsenic content, soil arsenic and edible parts of
crops and vegetables have been assessed. Concentration factor and enrichment factor indicates towards the
potential risk of human health due to dietary arsenic transfer in to the crops and vegetables.