A statistical summary and visualization tool for 30 years of background soil and sediment metals data from North Carolina Superfund Sites.

Concern over the harmful impacts of heavy metal pollution in soil has increased dramatically on a global scale. For the sake of environmental preservation, accurate estimates of the heavy metal concentrations in soil are essential. This study provides valuable data regarding heavy metal concentrations in soil collected from field crops production area in Central and Western Serbia. Five wider localities in the zones of Central and Western Serbia were selected for the collection of soil samples. Based on our research, focused on determining the total contents of heavy metals in the soil and the degree of pollution in the environment caused by their behavior, distribution, and origin, it can be concluded that there is pronounced variability in relation to localities. Heavy metal contents were mostly within the same ranges as those in similar soils from Europe and around the world. Any pollution control system must include heavy metal monitoring, including the methodical collection of data on the concentrations of heavy metals in a particular environment. Before environmental degradation occurs, it is crucial to set pollution limits and implement efficient monitoring procedures.

BackgroundThe accumulation of heavy metals in surface soil raises significant environmental and public health concerns around the world. This study aimed to examine the relationship between exposure to heavy metals in surface soil and the risk of pain among residents.MethodsUsing national data on eight heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc) in China's surface soil and a population cohort from 2011 to 2018, we analyzed pain occurrences in various body locations. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between exposure to heavy metal in soil and pain, as adjusting for gender, age, education level, body mass index, living region, and lifestyle. The study included 13,178 individuals.ResultsHigher exposure to soil arsenic was found to be associated with increased risk of shoulders [adjusted odds ratio (99.99% CI), 1.49 (1.01, 2.19)], wrists [1.68 (1.06, 2.64)] and ankles pain [1.58 (1.01, 2.50)]. No association was found between the remaining seven heavy metals and different types of body pain.ConclusionOur results indicate that higher soil arsenic exposure is associated with an increased risk of pain in specific body regions. This study is the first examining the associations between multiple heavy metals in surface soil and the risks of pain in different body sites. Our findings provide new insights into the health risks of soil heavy metal exposure.

Water shortage in rice cultivation area in Egypt pushed rice farmer to use poor quality water in rice irrigation. Using the correct nitrogen form with the proper rate might be coping with the condition and possible heavy metals in such water. Two field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 seasons at The Farm of Sakha Agriculture Research Station, Kafr-El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt. The soil texture was clayey. EC was 1.5dSm-1. The study aimed to find out the effect of various nitrogen forms; Urea, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate with varying nitrogen levels of 0, 109, 146 and 219 kg N ha-1 on Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) concentrations in soil, rice straw and rice grain as well as yield and yield components of Giza 178 rice variety under poor quality water .The chemical analysis of irrigation water was as following, Ni 0.28, 0.27, Cd 0.15, 0.17 Pb 0.34, 0.36 mg kg-1, ECw 2.66, 2.71 and pH 8.15 , 8.2 in the first and second seasons, receptively. Results indicated that the tested nitrogen forms and rate significantly affected the concentration of above-mentioned heavy metals, yield and yield components in both seasons. Ammonium sulfate was more efficient than other two nitrogen forms in minimizing heavy metals concentration in soil or rice plants and in enhancing yield and yield components under such poor quality water. The worst nitrogen form was ammonium nitrate regarding heavy metals concentration in plant or soil as well as yield and yield components of rice. Increasing nitrogen rate negatively affected the availability of heavy metals in soil, and their concentration in straw and grain of rice in both seasons. Furthermore, the increase nitrogen level (up to 146 kg ha-1) significantly improved yield and yield components of rice in both seasons.

With the rapid development of the economy, environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious. As one of the important carriers of industry and agriculture, the soil is one of the key concerns of people. The research on soil heavy metal pollution is also progressing day by day, and there are abundant research results. However, there are few studies on soil heavy metal pollution based on a granular level, most of which are whole-rock samples. Therefore, we evaluated the soil heavy metal pollution in the north bank of the Yellow River in Shandong province from the perspective of grain size. We hope to fill that gap. In this study, we systematically sampled topsoil from 15 sites on the north bank of the Yellow River in Shandong province. It was divided into two components, <20μm and 20-63μm, with a total of 32 data. The contents of heavy metals in soil were determined by ICP-MS. Based on experimental data, the single factor method and comprehensive index method were used to evaluate heavy metal pollution. The results showed that heavy metal pollution conditions were related to soil particle thickness. The contents of heavy metals in fine soil <20μm were higher. Among them, the heavy metal Ni content in 15 points exceeded the safety line, and 2 areas were slightly polluted. The composite index of 16 samples exceeded the safety line, and four sites had minor contamination. The heavy metal content of the soil with 20~63μm, thick particles was generally low, and the pollution evaluation result was clean. The results verified the geochemical characteristics of heavy metals enrichment in fine soil. In addition, the potential ecological hazards of heavy metals in soil particles < 20μm and 20-63μm were evaluated. The results showed slight ecological damage, which may be related to the biological toxicity of heavy metals.

Determining heavy metal background concentrations in soils is fundamental in order to support the monitoring of potentially contaminated areas. This is particularly important to areas submitted to high environmental impact where an intensive and local monitoring is required. To this end, the aim of this study was to establish background concentrations and quality reference values (QRVs) for the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, and Hg in an environmentally impacted watershed from Brazil. Geochemical associations among Fe, Mn, and trace elements were also assessed to provide an alternative tool for establishing background concentrations. A total of one hundred and four samples comprised twenty-six composite soil samples from areas of native forest or minimal anthropic influence. Samples were digested (USEPA method 3051A), and the metals were determined by ICP-OES, except for As and Hg measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Background concentrations of heavy metals in soils had the following decreasing order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > As > Cd > Hg. These values were usually lower than those observed in the international and national literature. The QRVs for Ipojuca watershed followed the order (mg kg(-1)) Fe (13,020.40) > Mn (91.80) > Zn (30.12) > Cr (15.00) > Pb (13.12) > Cu (3.53) > Ni (3.30) > As (0.51) > Cd (0.08) > Hg (0.04). Significant correlation among Fe, Mn, and heavy metals shows that solubilization by the method 3051A provides a reasonable estimate for predicting background concentrations for Cd, Cr, and Cu as well as Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni.

In this study, the contents of five representative heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu) were determined in soil and propolis samples from four locations in southwestern Macedonia using atomic absorption spectrometry. The aim was to pinpoint the key factors that influence the content of heavy metals in propolis and to establish whether there is a connection between the contents of heavy metals in soil and in propolis from the same location. Generally, at all of the locations, the relative concentrations of heavy metals in soil were found to decrease in the following order: Zn&gt;Cr&gt;Cu&gt;Pb&gt;Cd. The highest mean values for concentrations of heavy metals in these soils were found to be: 72.03, 38.28, 26.64, 17.15 and 0.60 mg kg–1 for Zn, Cr, Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively, and they are all below the target values from the new Dutch list. The general trend of the heavy metal contents in propolis from the same four locations, in decreasing order, is: Pb&gt;Cr&gt;Zn&gt;Cu≈Cd. Generally, the propolis samples from the highland locations (Orle and Rapeš) had lower overall contents of heavy metals than the lowland locations (Novaci and Makovo). All of the analyzed propolis samples meet the requirements of the Macedonian legislation and the international organizations for the maximum allowed levels for heavy metals. Attempts were made to find a correlation between the heavy metal contents in soil and propolis. According to our aim, the investigation presented herein offers one step towards a complete picture of ecological safety of the specific areas in the Republic of Macedonia. To do so, it is necessary to perform additional studies and to find appropriate biomonitoring methods. Further studies are needed to complete the picture and to determine the major pathways of incorporation of heavy metals in beehive products.

The article highlights the results of research on the content of heavy metals in sod-podzolic soils of oil-contaminated areas of Ivano-Frankivsk region. Contamination of soils with petroleum products causes severe ecological consequences for ecosystems. The aim of the research was to study the peculiarities of the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil, underground part and vegetative mass of sylphia perforated in the conditions of cultivation in oil-contaminated areas. The content of mobile forms of heavy metals in soils did not exceed the norms in all variants of the experiment. During the cultivation of Sylphia perfoliatum, it grew in a number: cadmium → nickel → cobalt → lead. The concentration of heavy metals in the soil was determined, which reflects the change in the content of the element in the test soil relative to the content of metals in the background soil. The coefficients of concentration of mobile forms of heavy metals in oil-contaminated soil for the cultivation of perforated sylphia for the application of fertilizers based on sewage sludge and compost based on them increased in a number: cobalt → lead → nickel → cadmium. Peculiarities of heavy metals accumulation in the vegetative mass of perforated sylphia have been established. Indices of intra-tissue heavy metal contamination of the root system of sylphia perforated with the introduction of sewage sludge increase in the following series: cadmium → nickel → lead → cobalt. The maximum indices of contamination of sylphia roots permeated with cadmium, nickel and cobalt are observed for the introduction into the soil of ERUs at a rate of 40 t / ha and N10P14K58, lead – for the application of compost at a rate of 30 t/ha and N30K55. The lowest indices of intratissue contamination with heavy metals of the roots of sylphia perfoliatum were noted for the application of fertilizer N60P60K60.

采用调查分析方法,研究长沙城市森林土壤Zn、Cu、Ni、Pb、As、Cd、Hg7种重金属含量,并以长沙市土壤背景值和湖南省土壤背景值为参比值,采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法评价不同城市化梯度森林土壤重金属潜在生态风险。结果表明:7种重金属的平均含量均随着城市化程度提高而增加,Pb增幅最大,As增幅最小。同一城市化梯度森林土壤均以Zn平均含量最高,Cd最低,但均未超过土壤环境质量标准(GB15618-1995)Ⅱ级标准值。在城市中心区,桂花树林、樟树+桂花树混交林土壤Zn、Cu、Pb、As、Hg平均含量普遍较高,而樟树+马尾松混交林、桂花树+杜英混交林土壤Cu、Ni、As、Cd、Hg平均含量普遍较低,Pb、Zn空间分布差异明显,Cd、Ni、As空间分布比较均匀,Cu、Ni、Pb、As、Cd、Hg之间(除Cd与As、Ni之间外)均存在显著(<em>P</em>＜0.05)或极显著(<em>P</em>＜0.01)的相关性,与土壤有机质之间也呈显著(<em>P</em>＜0.05)或极显著(<em>P</em>＜0.01)的相关性,Zn、Cu、Ni、Pb、As、Cd、Hg主要是人为输入;中心区森林土壤重金属的潜在生态危害已达到中等生态危害程度,边缘区接近中等生态危害程度,郊区为轻微生态危害程度,Zn、Cu、Ni、Pb、As均为轻微生态危害程度,Cd、Hg已达到中等生态危害程度以上。;In order to understand the influence of urbanization on distribution of heavy metals in soils, concentrations characteristics of 7 heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg) in various forest types were investigated along an urban gradient in Changsha, a capital city of Hunan Province, China. The concentrations and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the urban soils was assessed when compared to the background values of heavy metals in soils in both Changsha city and Hunan Province. A total nineteen major forest types were selected at three locations (namely urban district location, urban fringe location, and suburban location) along the urban gradient degree in urban forests soil in the Changsha city. Two forest plots (each with the size of 20m × 20m) were built in each forest types. Three subplots were (each with an area of 1 m²) were set up in each of the plots. Five soil samples (from 0-20 cm depth) were randomly taken within each subplot and pooled to a soil sample for heavy metals chemical analysis, 0-20cm soil samples were collected from different urban gradient (urban district, urban fringe, suburban) forest to analyze the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg, and the potential ecological hazard assessment indices by Hakanson was used to assess the soil heavy metals potential ecological risk degree in urban forest, based on the background values of soil in Changsha City and in Hunan Province. Results showed that the average concentration of the same heavy metal elements in urban forest soils tended to increase with degree of urbanization. Pb had the maximum increasing value and As the minimum. In the same urbanization location degree, Zn had the highest average concentration and Cd had the lowest one among the studied of all test heavy metals., On average, while the average the concentrations of all examined heavy metals them in study sites were lower than those in the Environmental Quality Standard for Soil (Ⅱgrade) in China.,. The heavy metals whose concentrations were higher than the background values in Changsha cite and the accumulation tendency of test heavy metals in urban forest were as in the order as of Cd＞Hg＞As＞Pb＞Cu (Ni)＞Zn in the study sites. The concentration of re existed some differences in the same heavy metal element varied concentration with among different types forest types in the city, The average concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, As, and Hg were as higher in <em>Osmanthus fragrans</em> forests and, <em>Cinnamomum camphora Presl.</em> and<em> Osmanthus fragrans </em>mixed forests, but that of Cu, Ni, As, Cd, and Hg were found to be was low concentrations in<em> Cinnamomum camphora Presl.+ Pinus massoniana </em>mixed forests and, <em>Osmanthus fragrans +Elaeocarpus sylvestris Poir </em>mixed forests, the spatial distribution patterns of Pb and Zn was significant different in the study area, while Cd, Ni and As were more evenly distributed. Significant correlations were found among Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg concentrations in soils (<em>P</em>< 0.05), except the relationships between Cd and As, and Ni. The 7 heavy metals had positively significant correlations with soil organ matter. It was found that Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, As, Cd and Hg mainly came form the anthropogenic inputs in the urban district forests. Based on potential ecological risk assessment, the situation of heavy metals was in the medium ecological risk level in urban district locations, was in closing to the medium level in urban fringe locations, and was in a slight level in suburban locations in Changsha cite. Among the studied heavy metals, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and As were in a slight risk level, while Cd and Hg were in medium or strong ecological risk level. Our study provided scientific reference to estimate and evaluate the impact of urbanization on heavy metals in Southern China.

Contaminated irrigation water can increase trace heavy metals concentration in agricultural soil. The present research aimed to investigate the effect of three types of irrigation water sources, including treated wastewater effluent, Gharasoo river water, and well water with chemical fertilizer, on the accumulation and ecological risk of heavy metals in agricultural soils. Soil samples were collected before and after crop irrigation to evaluate heavy metal concentrations. The samples were analyzed to determine the presence of arsenic, nickel, cadmium, iron, chromium, zinc, lead, copper, and manganese. Based on the results, the concentration of essential metals in the soil before the irrigation process was more than toxic metals. The different irrigation sources increased the concentration of all heavy metals in the soil, and the accumulation of Cr, Ni, and Cd significantly elevated more than others. Irrigation resources' effectiveness in transferring heavy metals to the soil was obtained as treated wastewater effluent < well water with fertilizer < river water. Furthermore, the potential ecological risk index (RI) for irrigated soil was in a high-risk category. Therefore, it is recommended that the river water should not be used to irrigate vegetables to the utmost possible. Finally, the low heavy metals concentration and the presence of nutrients in treated wastewater effluent make this source the most suited source of irrigation because it eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers by farmers and transfers fewer heavy metals to the soil.

This study evaluated the concentrations of heavy metals in wastewater, soil, and tomatoes and Napa cabbage irrigated with effluent from the Kalobe Wastewater Stabilization Pond (KWWSP) in Mbeya, Tanzania. Human health risks were assessed using Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Target Cancer Risk (TCR) indices. The results showed that cadmium (Cd) in all ponds was below the FAO/WHO permissible limits, while lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) were below detection levels. Heavy metals in soil were found in the order of Pb (5.95mg/kg)>Cr (0.63mg/kg)>Cd (0.25mg/kg), all within FAO/WHO acceptable limits, indicating suitability for agricultural use. Cd levels in Tomatoes (0.14mg/kg) and Napa cabbage (0.40mg/kg) exceeded permissible limits. Cr levels in the Tomato and Napa Cabbage were 1.87 and 2.10mg/kg, respectively, and were close to the safety threshold, suggesting health concerns with long-term consumption. Cd exposure through vegetable intake was within but near acceptable limits, while Cr exposure, particularly for Napa cabbage, exceeded recommended safety thresholds. This resulted in elevated noncarcinogenic risks (THQ and HI>1) and carcinogenic risks (TCR above the USEPA's acceptable range). These findings suggest that consuming wastewater-irrigated Tomatoes and Napa cabbage may pose human health risks. Continuous monitoring of heavy metals, safe irrigation alternatives, and cropping restrictions using inadequately treated wastewater is essential to safeguard public health and long-term environmental sustainability.

Vertical distribution and migration of heavy metals in soil of green stormwater infrastructure receiving roof runoff

It is extremely important to explore the heavy metal content and spatial distribution in different cultivated soils. In our study, cokriging (COK) method was used to investigate the relationship between heavy metals and land use types. A total of six heavy metals including Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B, S were selected to forecast the heavy metals in cultivated soils. Five types of cultivated land were considered in the study area, including vegetable land, irrigated land, irrigated paddy field, dry land, orchard. Test of normality was firstly carried out to assure that higher prediction accuracy can be obtained, and then correlation analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to find out the most sensitive heavy metals for spatial interpolation. The analysis results showed that Zn, Cu and Fe were the primary heavy metals in soil of the study area. It was obvious that the effect of Mn and Fe were much greater caused by land use types, while they were smaller for B and S. Three errors of mean standard (MS), root mean square error (RMSE), and root mean square standardized error (RMSSE) were derived to assess the prediction accuracy. In comparison with ordinary kriging (OK), the MS of COK approached to 1, the RMSE was much smaller and the RMSSE also approached to 1, which showed that COK can make better predictions than OK.

Prediction of low heavy metal concentrations in agricultural soils using visible and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Characteristics, correlations and health risks of PCDD/Fs and heavy metals in surface soil near municipal solid waste incineration plants in Southwest China

Heavy metals contamination in agricultural soil is a potential environmental threat to the safety of agricultural food crops such as rice which is consumed by majority of Tanzanians. The aim of this review is to put together available information on sources of heavy metals, their extent of contamination in agricultural soil and in rice, the risk of exposure through rice consumption as well as the relationship between heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils and in rice in Tanzania. There are several methods of determining the concentrations of heavy metals in soils and in rice. These include Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP – MS) and Energy Dispersive X – ray Fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF). It has been mostly reported that the extent of heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils is influenced by their closeness to mining or industrial areas. The use of river waters in mining areas or wastewater from industries for irrigation has been associated to increasing levels of heavy metals in agricultural soils. The elevated level of heavy metals in agricultural soils leads to their accumulation in crops especially rice which upon consumption poses health effects to human and the ecosystem at large. This review suggests the need for determining the extent of heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils around potential areas such as mining and to link this with exposure assessment on heavy metals through rice consumption in Tanzania. This information is necessary to establish the extent at which rice consumers in Tanzania are at risk of heavy metals exposure.