This study evaluated the environmental and health impacts of heavy metal accumulation from mineral fertilizer use in Egyptian agricultural soils over time. Samples of fertilizers, soils, and plants from fields under different cultivation periods were analyzed for heavy metals like lead, cadmium, cobalt, and nickel. The results showed higher heavy metal concentrations in soils and plants from fields cultivated for longer periods, with human health risk increasing as indicated by hazard index values over 1. The study concludes that reduced use of fertilizers containing heavy metals is needed to lower pollution levels and health risks from long-term fertilizer applications.

1. Environmental and Health
Impacts of Successive Mineral
Fertilization in Egypt
Ahmed A. Abdelhafez
Faculty of Agriculture, The New Valley
University- Egypt

2. Introduction
 Heavy metal contaminated soils are of
great concern due to its adverse
environmental and health impacts
 Heavy metals enter soil from different
sources, including, wastes from mines and
smelters, atmospheric deposition, animal
manures and sewage sludge and mineral
fertilizers

3.  Mineral fertilizers are of great importance for
food production. Accordingly, the world
demand for mineral fertilizers has increased
to meet the increased demand for agricultural
production
 Mineral fertilizers are produced from soil
ores that may contain high concentrations of
heavy metals
 Consequently, the addition of large amounts
of mineral fertilizers to the soil results in the
accumulation of heavy metals
Introduction

4.  Consumptions among N, P and K
fertilizers in the Egyptian agricultural lands
from Ministry of Agriculture and Soil Reclamation [MASR], 2006
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Consumption,x104tons
Year
N
P
K
Introduction

5. 1) Ingestion
2) Inhalation
3) Dermal
 Heavy metals exposure pathways
Introduction
Abdelhafez, A.A. and Ok, Y.S. 2010

6.  The Hazard Index (HI) is used to determine
the adverse health risk of any contaminants.
> 1 : Adverse health effects (Worse).
< 1 : No adverse health effects (Better).

doseReference
pathwaysdifferentviadosesdailyAverage
HI
Introduction

7.  The main objectives of the current
study are to:
- Evaluate the quality of mineral fertilizers
(N, P and K) and their detrimental impact
on accumulation of heavy metals in soil
and plants in Egypt
- Assess the potential risks of human health
through the exposure to various heavy
metals in soil and grain
Objectives

8. Materials and Methods
Fertilizer samples:
N, P and K fertilizers were collected (n=54)
Plant samples:
Maize and wheat, each plant was divided
to: shoot, root and grain (n=36)
Evaluated heavy metals: Pb, Cd, Co and Ni
Soil samples:
Two locations, tow seasons, different
cultivation period: 0, <5, 10 and >20 yrs.
Used three depths: 0-30, 30-60 and 60-
120cm (n=144)
El-Bustan
El-Nubaria

9.  Input parameters to characterize the
ADD and HI values
Materials and Methods

10.  Some chemical and physical properties
of the studied soils
Results

11.  Total heavy metal contents in the collected mineral
fertilizers
Results

12.  Total contents of heavy metals (mg kg-1) in soil as
influenced by the duration time of cultivation
Results

13.  AB-DTPA extractable heavy metals (mg kg-1) in soil as
influenced by the duration time of cultivation
Results

14.  Total Pb contents (mg kg-1) in the cultivated plants
Results

15.  Total Cd contents (mg kg-1) in the cultivated plants
Results

16.  HI of the investigated heavy metals in the non
calcareous soil cultivated for different durations of time
Results

17.  HI of the investigated heavy metals in the calcareous
soil cultivated for different durations of time
Results

18.  All tested mineral fertilizers indicated
different levels of accumulation of heavy
metals in soils
 The concentration of heavy metals in soils
and the human health risk are increased
with increasing cultivation period
 Reduced the use of mineral fertilizer
containing heavy metals is critical to
reduce pollution and human health risk
Conclusion

19. Environmental and Health
Impacts of Successive Mineral
Fertilization in Egypt
Ahmed A. Abdelhafez
Faculty of Agriculture, The New Valley
University- Egypt