Copper Bioavailability and Accumulation Patterns in the Soil–Plant–Animal Pathway Under Semiarid Conditions

ABSTRACT Heavy metal poisoning poses a serious threat to ruminant health. This study aimed to determine Cu accumulation and its transfer in the soil‒plant–animal food chain. A study was designed in which three sites irrigated with ground, canal, and sewage water (CW Site I, GW Site II, and SW Site III) in the district of Sargodha were selected. Six types of forages were chosen ( Zea mays , Pennisetum glaucum , Trifolium alexandrinum , Sorghum bicolor , Avena sativa , and Saccharum officinarum ). The Cu concentrations in these samples were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AA‐6300, Shimadzu, Japan). In soil, forage, and blood samples, Cu levels ranged from 10.036 to 14.93 mg kg −1 , 5.14 to 9.87 mg kg −1 , and 1.97 to 5.15 mg L −1 , respectively. The highest Cu level was observed at SW Site III, and the lowest was observed at CW Site I. The Cu values in the forage species samples were found to be lower than the permissible limit. On the other hand, a nonsignificant positive association was found between soil and forage at CW Site I, while a strong negative correlation was observed at SW Site III between forage and blood. The maximum levels of the transfer factor (0.8017) and enrichment factor (0.2300) for copper were observed upon wastewater irrigation (SW Site III). A higher value of EDI (0.0190) in Z. mays was observed at SW Site III. At all sites, the HQ values for the contaminant Cu were below 1, indicating a relatively low exposure risk. Frequent monitoring of heavy metals is necessary to prevent excessive build‐up of copper.