Detection and assessment of heavy metals concentration in wheat leaves collected from the vicinity of Sahiwal coal power plant, Pakistan, employing a modern data analysis approach

Heavy metal pollution in food crops has become a global issue, especially in staple crops like wheat and rice. Electricity production utilising coal, ignites this issue in crops grown in the surrounding areas of coal power plants. Keeping this view in mind, the concentration of six heavy metals (HMs) Calcium (Ca), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Lead (Pb) and Magnesium (Mg) in wheat leaves have been assessed in this study. Fifty samples of wheat leaves have been collected from the surrounding areas of the coal power plant in Sahiwal. The samples were prepared using the wet digestion method (WDM). Finally, these samples have been sent for analysis via atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of Quantification (LOQ) of AAS were calculated with the help of blank samples. The concentration of Ca, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb and Mg in wheat leaves were 1.0187 +/- 0.549 mg/kg, 0.00484 +/- 0.00403 mg/kg 00,416 +/- 0.00334 mg/kg, 0.0534 +/- 0.0351 mg/kg, 0.035 +/- 0.018 mg/kg, 0.464 +/- 0.200 mg/kg respectively. The concentration of all understudy metals was below the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (WHO/FAO) standards except for Co, in one sample. However, the concentration of heavy metals may increase, which may have profound repercussions. Therefore, preventive measures should be taken in this regard. The neutrosophic approach has been utilised to examine the variation of the heavy metals content in wheat leaves. This study provides a solid scientific foundation for future appropriate actions and management of heavy metals contamination in food crops near coal-fired power stations.