Using wastewater for irrigation of consumable plant products may pose a health hazard if the wastewater contains:

Using wastewater for irrigation of consumable plant products can indeed pose health hazards if the wastewater contains heavy metals like cadmium. Cadmium is a toxic metal that can accumulate in plants and potentially enter the food chain. When plants absorb cadmium from contaminated water, it can lead to detrimental health effects for humans who consume these plants. Chronic exposure to cadmium is associated with kidney damage, bone disease, and an increased risk of cancer.

Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury also present health risks, but cadmium is particularly concerning in the context of agriculture and food safety due to its known toxicological profile and its propensity to bioaccumulate. Therefore, monitoring and regulating cadmium levels in wastewater used for irrigation is crucial to ensure public health safety.