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Pollution Indices as Useful Tools for Comparative Potential Health Risks of Nickel in Water-Soil-Fodder-Animals Food
Hamid Raza1, Mukkram Ali Tahir2,3, Noor Us Sabah2
1Department of Botany, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan. hamidraza78678600@gmail.com.
Biological Trace Element Research
|July 24, 2026
Summary
Nickel contamination in fodder poses a food chain risk. Studies show low ecological and health risks currently, but continuous monitoring is vital due to potential long-term accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Metallic compound contamination in fodder is a significant pathway for entry into the food chain.
- Assessing nickel contamination in fodder crops and its subsequent transfer through the food chain is crucial for ecological and human health.
- Investigating nickel's impact in agricultural ecosystems near industrial and populated areas is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the ecological and health hazards of nickel contamination in fodder crops and the food chain.
- To evaluate nickel transfer across the water-soil-fodder-animal continuum under varying agro-ecological and seasonal conditions.
- To determine nickel concentrations and associated risks in Pakistan's Punjab region.
Main Methods:
- Multi-matrix monitoring of water, soil, fodder, ruminant blood, feces, and milk for nickel concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
- Analysis of various fodder species including Z. mays, C. dactylon, M. sativa, and others.
- Application of ecological, biological, and human health risk indices, including bioaccumulation factor (BCF) and enrichment factor (EF), alongside multivariate statistical analyses.
Main Results:
- Nickel concentrations in fodder were influenced more by bioavailability and soil-plant interactions than total soil nickel.
- Highest nickel concentration was found in buffalo blood (site_1), lowest in cow milk (site_2).
- Except for BCF and EF (>1), computed risk indices were <1, indicating low ecological and health risk, despite some fodder enrichment.
Conclusions:
- The studied regions currently exhibit low nickel pollution stress, with bioaccumulation not translating into significant health risks.
- Continuous environmental monitoring is essential due to potential long-term nickel transfer through the food chain from agricultural and wastewater inputs.
- Recommendations include regular monitoring, strict regulations on industrial waste, farmer guidance on clean water and forage selection, and promoting soil remediation.
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