Mir Ishfaq Ahmad
Geological Survey of India, NCEGR, Bengaluru, 560111, India.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 31;15(1):10949. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-95797-y.
Soil plays a critical role in determining the food nutrition at the base of the food chain, which makes it essential for food safety. This study demonstrates how micronutrient deficiencies and pollution from hazardous elements may affect crop productivity as well as human and animal health. In the Kashmir valley's Bandipora-Ganderbal region, 200 top soils were examined to ascertain the toxicity risks and trace element deficiencies. With mean values of 44,759 ± 6072, 120 ± 23, 114 ± 18, 89 ± 22, 44 ± 8, 33 ± 7, 23 ± 4, 19 ± 4, and 11 ± 5 respectively, the concentrations (mg kg) vary from Fe: 31,326 to 77,420, Cr: 59 to 228, V: 79 to 235, Zn: 30 to 174, Ni: 18 to 79, Cu: 10 to 59, Pb: 15 to 55, Co: 10 to 38 and As: 1 to 36. A portion of the study area has hazardous levels of As, Cr, Ni, and V and is deficient in Cu, Ni, and Zn for agricultural production. Micronutrient deficiencies are associated to carbonate rock topography, while pollution symptoms are linked to areas with human footprints. Weak correlations for As, Pb, and Zn and significant correlations for Fe, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and V indicate anthropogenic and geogenic origins, respectively. For Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and V, the enrichment factor is minimum; for As, Pb, and Zn, it is moderate. The soil pollution indices for Cu, Pb, and Zn are low, while those for As, Co, Cr, Ni, and V are moderate. The integrated toxic risk index was evaluated in order to gain a better understanding of the toxicity in the research region. The values ranged from 3.80 to 10.64, with 5% of samples having no risk, 63.5% having low risk, and 31.5% having moderate risk. Compared to forest, grazing areas, and waste land sites, areas used for agriculture, habitation, and hydroelectric projects are more contaminated. The main causes of pollution are pesticides, fertilizers, construction, and vehicle emissions. The study's main conclusions about As, Cr, Ni, and V pollution and deficiencies in Cu, Ni, and Zn in soils may help policymakers improve soil health for higher crop yields and a healthier lifestyle.
土壤在决定食物链基础环节的食物营养方面起着关键作用，这使其对食品安全至关重要。本研究展示了微量营养素缺乏和有害元素污染如何影响作物生产力以及人类和动物健康。在克什米尔山谷的班迪普尔 - 甘德巴尔地区，对200份表层土壤进行了检测，以确定毒性风险和微量元素缺乏情况。铁（Fe）、铬（Cr）、钒（V）、锌（Zn）、镍（Ni）、铜（Cu）、铅（Pb）、钴（Co）和砷（As）的浓度（毫克/千克）分别为44,759 ± 6072、120 ± 23、114 ± 18、89 ± 22、44 ± 8、33 ± 7、23 ± 4、19 ± 4和11 ± 5，其变化范围分别为：铁：31,326至77,420，铬：59至228，钒：79至235，锌：30至174，镍：18至79，铜：10至59，铅：15至55，钴：10至38，砷：1至36。研究区域的一部分地区砷、铬、镍和钒含量处于有害水平，且农业生产中铜、镍和锌缺乏。微量营养素缺乏与碳酸盐岩地形有关，而污染症状则与有人为活动痕迹的区域有关。砷、铅和锌的相关性较弱，而铁、钴、铬、铜、镍和钒的相关性显著，分别表明其人为和地质成因。对于钴、铬、铜、镍和钒，富集因子最小；对于砷、铅和锌，富集因子适中。铜、铅和锌的土壤污染指数较低，而砷、钴、铬、镍和钒的污染指数适中。为了更好地了解研究区域的毒性，评估了综合毒性风险指数。其值范围为3.80至10.64，5%的样本无风险，63.5%的样本风险较低，31.5%的样本风险适中。与森林、放牧区和荒地相比，用于农业、居住和水电项目的区域污染更严重。污染的主要原因是农药、化肥、建筑和车辆排放。该研究关于土壤中砷、铬、镍和钒污染以及铜、镍和锌缺乏的主要结论，可能有助于政策制定者改善土壤健康状况，以实现更高的作物产量和更健康的生活方式。
