scholarly journals INTERACTION OF HEAVY METALS IN THE SOIL-PLANT SYSTEM OF URBAN GARDENS IN ATHENS, GREECE

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 2182
Author(s):  
A. Kazantzoglou ◽  
A. Argyraki ◽  
S. Papageorgiou ◽  
D. Fadel

Preliminary data on the interaction between soil and edible plants with respect to heavy metal concentrations in Athens, Greece are presented. Concentration ranges of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, Ba, Pb and Cd in soils and vegetables collected from urban allotments in Athens are determined and assessed taking into account the pseudototal (extracted by aqua regia) and mobilizable (0.43 M acetic acid extractable) concentrations of the elements in the rhizosphere soil of the collected plants as well as the total concentrations in plant tissue. Average elemental concentrations in urban allotments are lower than the ones previously reported for Athens urban soil. No detectable concentrations of the non essential heavy metals Pb and Cd were measured in the studied plants while concentrations of micronutrient elements in plants are within normal ranges. The collected data indicate that previous land use is an important factor controlling heavy metal content in soil and that there is a complex mechanism controlling micronutrient uptake by plants.

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 2108
Author(s):  
D. Fadel ◽  
A. Argyraki ◽  
S. Papageorgiou ◽  
E. Kelepertzis

Preliminary data on heavy metals concentrations in soil and edible plants of DamourLebanon are presented for the first time. Concentration ranges of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, Ba, Pb and Cd in soils and vegetables collected from urban allotments in Damour were determined and assessed taking into account the pseudototal (extracted by aqua regia) and mobilizable (0.43 M acetic acid extractable) concentrations of the elements in the rhizosphere soil of the plants as well as the total concentrations in edible plant tissue. Average elemental concentrations in urban allotments are low in general. No detectable concentrations of the non-essential heavy metals Pb and As were measured in the studied plants while concentrations of micronutrient elements in plants were within normal ranges. The collected data indicate that previous land use is an important factor controlling heavy metal content in soil and that there is a complex mechanism controlling micronutrient uptake by plants.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Karine Boulet ◽  
Adelcia Veiga ◽  
Carla Ferreira ◽  
António Ferreira

<p>Conservation of agriculture soils is a topic of major concern, namely through the increase of soil organic matter. SoilCare project (https://www.soilcare-project.eu/) aims to enhance the quality of agricultural soils in Europe, through the implementation and testing of Soil Improving Cropping Systems in 16 study sites. In Portugal, the application of urban sewage sludge amendments in agriculture soils has been investigated. However, this application is a sensitive topic, due to the risk of long term accumulation of heavy metals and consequent contamination of the soil. The recent Portuguese legislation (Decret-Law 103/2015) is more restrictive than the precedent one (Decret-Law 276/2009) in terms of maximum concentrations of heavy metals in agricultural soils. The analytical quantification of heavy metals, however, raises some methodological questions associated with soil sample pre-treatment, due to some imprecisions in standard analytical methods. For example, the ISO 11466 regarding the extraction in Aqua Regia provides two pre-treatment options: (i) sieve the soil sample with a 2 mm mesh (but if mass for analyses is <2g, mill and sieve the sample <250µm is required), or (ii) mill and sieve the soil sample through a 150µm mesh. On the other hand, the EN 13650 requests soil samples to be sieved at 500µm. Since heavy metals in the soil are usually associated with finer particles, the mesh size used during the pre-treatment of soil samples may affect their quantification.</p><p>This study aims to assess the impact of soil particle size on total heavy metal concentrations in the soil. Soil samples were collected at 0-30cm depth in an agricultural field with sandy loam texture, fertilized with urban sludge amendment for 3 years. These samples were then divided in four subsamples and sieved with 2mm, 500µm, 250µm and 106µm meshes (soil aggregates were broken softly but soil wasn’t milled). Finer and coarser fractions were weighted and analyzed separately. Heavy metals were extracted with Aqua Regia method, using a mass for analyze of 3g, and quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace (Cd) and flame (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cr).</p><p>Except for Cu, heavy metals concentrations increase linearly with the decline of the coarser fraction. This means that analyzing heavy metals content only in the finest fractions of the soil leads to an over estimation of their concentrations in the total soil. Results also show that coarser fractions of soil comprise lower, but not negligible, concentrations of heavy metals. Calculating heavy metal concentrations in the soil based on the weighted average of both fine and coarse fractions and associated concentrations, provide similar results to those driven by the analyses of heavy metals in the <2mm fraction. This indicates that milling and analyzing finer fractions of the soil did not influence the quantification of heavy metals in total soil. Clearer indications on analytical procedures should be provided in analytical standards, in order to properly assess heavy metal concentrations and compare the results with soil quality standards legislated.  </p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 4933
Author(s):  
Sabia Sultana ◽  
A. K. M. Nur Alam Siddiki ◽  
Md. Rokonujjaman ◽  
M. Niamul Naser ◽  
Abdus Salam ◽  
...  

The heavy metal concentration (e.g., Mn, Zn, Pb and Ni) were determined in soft tissues and shells of freshwater mussels (Lamellidens marginalis) at the various sites of Dhanmondi lake, Dhaka, Bangladesh between the period April, 2010 and March 2011. The heavy metal concentrations in shells and soft tissues of freshwater mussels were tended to vary significantly among sampling points and seasons in Dhanmondi Lake. Distribution of heavy metals in shell and soft tissue of Lamellidens marginalis followed the order Mn>Zn>Pb>Ni, respectively. According to the t-test, level of manganese, zinc and lead under investigation between shell and tissue showed statistically significant differences [Mn: t=-11.387; df=16; P=0.000; Zn: t=-2.590; df=16; P=0.020 and Pb: t=-2.8679; df=16; P=0.011].


Author(s):  
Yujuan Gao ◽  
Jianli Jia ◽  
Beidou Xi ◽  
Dongyu Cui ◽  
Wenbing Tan

The heavy metal pollution induced by agricultural land use change has attracted great attention. In this study, the divergent response of bioavailability of heavy metals in rhizosphere soil to different...


2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. MÄNTYLAHTI ◽  
P. LAAKSO

Increasing concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in agricultural soils are becoming a growing problem in industrialized countries. These harmful elements represent the basis of a range of problems in the food chain, and are a potential hazard for animal and human health. It is therefore important to gauge their absolute and relative concentrations in soils that are used for crop production. In this study the arsenic and heavy metal concentrations in 274 mineral soil samples and 38 organogenic soil samples taken from South Savo province in 2000 were determined using the aqua regia extraction technique. The soil samples were collected from 23 farms.The elements analyzed were arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc. The median concentrations in the mineral soils were:As 2.90 mg kg –1, Cd 0.084 mg kg –1, Cr 17.0 mg kg –1, Cu 13.0 mg kg –1, Hg 0.060 mg kg –1, Ni 5.4 mg kg –1, Pb 7.7 mg kg –1, Zn 36.5 mg kg –1. The corresponding values in the organogenic soils were:As 2.80 mg kg –1, Cd 0.265 mg kg –1, Cr 15.0 mg kg –1, Cu 29.0 mg kg –1, Hg 0.200 mg kg –1, Ni 5.9 mg kg –1, Pb 11.0 mg kg –1, Zn 25.5 mg kg –1. The results indicated that cadmium and mercury concentrations in the mineral and organogenic soils differed. Some of the arsenic, cadmium and mercury concentrations exceeded the normative values but did not exceed limit values. Most of the agricultural fields in South Savo province contained only small amounts of arsenic and heavy metals and could be classified as “Clean Soil”. A draft for the target values of arsenic and heavy metal concentrations in “Clean Soil” is presented.;


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-109
Author(s):  
Witriani Marvinatur Ihsan ◽  
Ratnawulan Ratnawulan

In the South Coastal Forest area, West Sumatra, a luminous mushroom with the species Neonothopanus Sp. This research was conducted with the aim of seeing the effect of heavy metals on the bioluminescence reaction of luminous mushrooms. Starting from the effect of heavy metal concentrations on the intensity and inhibition coefficient of luminous mushroom biolumination. From the measurement results, the maximum intensity value of luminous mushrooms is 499.6 au occurring at a wavelength of 505 nm. At a wavelength of 505 nm, visible light is produced in green. The results obtained are in accordance with observations, because the light emitted by the glowing mushroom is green. If the concentration of heavy metals is greater, the intensity of the bioluminescent fungus (Neonothopanus sp) will decrease. The type of heavy metal affects the intensity of the fungus biolumination. The greatest decrease in intensity occurred in copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). If the heavy metal concentration is greater, the inhibition coefficient will be smaller. The greatest inhibition coefficient due to the presence of heavy metals occurs in copper (Cu) then iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and the smallest is lead (Pb).


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (27) ◽  
pp. 200911
Author(s):  
Aung Zaw Tun ◽  
Pokkate Wongsasuluk ◽  
Wattasit Siriwong

Background. Artisanal and small-scale mining activities are widely practiced globally. Concentrations of heavy metals associated with gold, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) can increase in the environment as a result of mining activities, leading to environmental pollution and pose toxicity risks to humans and animals. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate soil concentrations of toxic heavy metals in placer small-scale gold mining operations in Myanmar. Methods. Soil samples were collected from three placer small-scale gold mining sites: Site A located in the Hmawbon public protected forest, Site B and Site C, situated in the Nant-Kyin reserved forest around Nar Nant Htun village. At each site, soil samples were collected from four gold mining stages (ore processing, sluicing, panning, and amalgamation). Atomic absorption spectroscopy was utilized to examine the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg. Results. The highest heavy metal concentrations were generally found in the amalgamation stages across all the gold mining sites. Across the three mining sites, the maximum heavy metal concentrations in the amalgamation stage were 22.170 mg.kg−1 for As, 3.070 mg.kg−1 for Cd, 77.440 mg.kg−1 for Hg, and 210.000 mg.kg−1 for Pb. Conclusions. The present study examined the concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in the soil of several small-scale gold mining sites in Banmauk Township, Myanmar. The results demonstrated the presence of high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil of the gold mining sites. Miners in this area work without proper personal protective equipment, and frequent exposure to heavy metals in the soil may cause adverse health effects. The present study provides baseline data for future risk assessment studies of heavy metal contamination in gold mines. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Huang ◽  
Hongwei Fang ◽  
Ke Ni ◽  
Wenjun Yang ◽  
Weihua Zhao ◽  
...  

In this study, surface sediment samples were taken from the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in June 2015 to estimate the spatial distribution and potential risk of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni (34 sites from the mainstream and 9 sites from the major tributaries), and correlations with environmental variables were analyzed (e.g., median sediment size, water depth, turbidity, dissolved oxygen of the bottom water samples, and total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus of the surface sediment samples). Results show that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments have increased over the last few decades, especially for Cd and Pb; and the sites in the downstream area, e.g., Badong (BD) and Wushan (WS), have had greater increments of heavy metal concentrations. The sampling sites from S6 to S12-WS are identified as hot spots for heavy metal distribution and have relatively high heavy metal concentrations, and there are also high values for the sites affected by urban cities (e.g., the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni for the site S12-WS). Overall, the heavy metal concentrations increased slightly along the mainstream due to pollutants discharged along the Yangtze River and sediment sorting in the reservoir, and the values in the mainstream were greater than those in the tributaries. Meanwhile, the heavy metal concentrations were generally positively correlated with water depth (especially for Ni), while negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and median sediment size. These environmental variables have a great impact on the partition of heavy metals between the sediment and overlying water. According to the risk assessment, the heavy metals in the surface sediments of TGR give a low to moderate level of pollution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-80
Author(s):  
Tamara Zalewska ◽  
Paulina Brzeska-Roszczyk ◽  
Beata Danowska ◽  
Mariusz Pełechaty

AbstractThe paper presents the first data on the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn) and 137Cs and their contamination ratios (CR) in the most abundant species of macrophytes in the Vistula Lagoon. No significant differences in the concentrations of heavy metals and 137Cs between macrophyte taxa or the influence of rivers flowing into the Vistula Lagoon on heavy metal concentrations in the area were found. The concentrations of heavy metals in macrophyte taxa varied in the following ranges: Cd – 0.1–0.7 mg kg−1 d.w.; Pb – 0.5–5.0 mg kg-1 d.w.; Zn – 29–390 mg kg-1 d.w.; Cu – 2.5–8.3 mg kg-1 d.w.; Ni – 0.4–6.8 mg kg−1 d.w.; Cr – 0.5–2.8 mg kg−1 d.w.; Mn – 380–8500 mg kg−1 d.w. Since the 1990s, a decline or stable state of heavy metal concentrations in bottom sediments has been observed, reflecting changes in the environment of the Vistula Lagoon. The linear sedimentation rate in the Vistula Lagoon was 3.3 mm y−1. The results presented in the paper can serve as a baseline for assessing changes in the environmental status of the Vistula Lagoon, which may occur as a result of future investments, including building a new navigable canal through the Vistula Spit.


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