0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Human Health Effects Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Biological Risks of Waste Water for Irrigation

CURRENT TRENDS IN NATURAL SCIENCES 2022 4 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Fatma Ozkay, İ̇smail Taş, Hakan Ozkandan, Aysel Çağlan Günal

Summary

This study examined the biological risks of using treated wastewater for irrigation, including contamination by pathogens, heavy metals, and microplastics, and the implications for agricultural sustainability and public health.

Body Systems
Study Type Environmental

Increasing activities in the World, enhance the pressure on freshwater resources. The most important solution to reduce this pressure is the use of treated wastewater. The use of wastewater is becoming increasingly common on a global scale. Wastewater used irrigation, especially in agriculture and landscape areas. It can use some industrial activities such as cooling, washing, boiler feeding and fire extinguishing. Wastewater is generally used directly or by creating a wetland after physical pre-treatment. Changes in living standards have diversified wastewater contents. In recent years, domestic wastewater contains substances, which are extremely harmful to living health, that cannot be treated with physical processes, and require expensive and complex treatment techniques. Heavy metals, microorganisms and endocrine disruptors in wastewater pose serious health risks to life. In this study, biological risks in the use of wastewater in irrigation will be evaluated. In the study, the biological risks that the pathogenic microorganisms and endocrine disruptors contained in the wastewater may cause in irrigated areas and suggestions for their solution are given.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Treated wastewater irrigation: unlocking sustainability in agriculture and food security—a comprehensive review

This comprehensive review explores treated wastewater as an alternative irrigation source for agriculture in water-scarce regions. While treated wastewater can improve soil fertility and crop growth, the review notes concerns about contaminants including microplastics that can accumulate in soil and potentially enter the food chain, emphasizing the need for effective treatment technologies.

Article Tier 2

Mitigating risks and maximizing sustainability of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation

This review examines the benefits and risks of using treated wastewater for crop irrigation, drawing heavily on Israel's experience as a world leader in this practice. While treated wastewater is a valuable water source, it can contain emerging contaminants including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pathogens that may affect soil health, crops, and human health. The authors call for better policies and global data sharing to ensure safe reuse of wastewater in agriculture.

Article Tier 2

Impact of Wastewater on the Soil–Plant–Atmosphere Interface: Challenges and Remediation Approaches

This review examines the wide-ranging impacts of using wastewater for agricultural irrigation, covering effects on soil health, crop safety, and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the many concerns discussed, microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria emerging from wastewater reuse are flagged as growing threats requiring better monitoring and policy responses. For readers interested in microplastics, the paper highlights how irrigation with wastewater is one of the pathways by which plastic particles enter farmland soils and ultimately the food chain.

Article Tier 2

Phytotoxic Effects of Treated Wastewater Used for Agricultural Irrigation On Root Hydraulic Conductivity and Plant Growth

This study tested whether treated municipal wastewater used for crop irrigation harms plants, finding effects on root water transport and growth. Treated wastewater often contains microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals, and irrigating with it may be a pathway for these contaminants to enter food crops.

Article Tier 2

Interactive effects of microplastics, heavy metals, and soil microecology under different irrigation water sources

Researchers found that using a mix of river water and treated wastewater to irrigate crops led to the highest levels of tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in soil, along with increased amounts of heavy metals like lead and chromium. These microplastics appear to help these harmful metals stick around in the soil rather than being naturally filtered out. This matters because these pollutants could potentially make their way into the food we eat, though more research is needed to understand the health risks.

Share this paper