The effects of heavy metal exposure in agriculture soil on chlorophyll content of agriculture crops: A meta-analysis approach

Abstract

Abstract Soil can be contaminated by the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids through emissions from rapidly developing industrial areas. Due to the possibility of chemical change (speciation) and their bioavailability, the presence of toxic metals in the soil can greatly inhibit the biodegradation of organic contaminants. The researchers aimed to analyse the effect of heavy metal levels in agricultural soil on chlorophyll levels in agricultural crops through a meta-analysis method which is expected to provide results in the form of a summary of data that already exists in journals that have been published so far. Here we present a meta-analysis of 6 studies (56 data collected) published between 1997 and 2020 that reported the effects of heavy metal content on plant chlorophyll content. Based on the meta-analysis of the effect of heavy metal exposure in agricultural soil on the chlorophyll content of agricultural crops, the value “effect size overall” was -0.285 in the range of -0.380 to -0.190, where most of the values “effect size” were on the left. Plants growing on soil contaminated with heavy metals result in decreased growth due to changes in physiological and biochemical activities, especially when heavy metals inhibit plant growth and development. Furthermore, environmental risk assessment due to mercury exposure is very important to control the transport and accumulation of mercury in the biosphere to reduce the impact of mercury on the environment.