Accumulation and implications of cadmium, cobalt and manganese in soils and vegetables irrigated with city effluent

In most parts of Pakistan, untreated city effluent is utilised for growing vegetables around large urban settlements such as Faisalabad. Farmers use it as a source of irrigation water and plant nutrients. However, its continuous use may have serious environmental implications, since it also contains heavy metals. In this study the Faisalabad city effluent was examined for irrigation quality and its impact on irrigated soils and vegetables.