Metal and non-metal micro-pollutants in cultivated soils of Lecce and Brindisi districts (Apulia, southern Italy).
To estimate the presence of metal and non-metal micro-pollutants in the soils of the Lecce and Brindisi districts, an analytical study has been carried out on samples of surface soils taken from agricultural areas. The research has concerned the determination of the following micro-pollutants: Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb, Be, Cd, As, Hg, Sb e Tl. Statistical techniques, such as Principal Component Analysis and Clustering Analysis, have been utilised to examine the correlations among the different parameters and to define contamination areas. The results show that the amount of micro-pollutants in the superficial stratum of the examined soils is in the range permitted by the regulations in force, with the exception of arsenic and thallium. Arsenic concentrations are near to the maximum admissible value, while thallium concentrations are in 56% of the samples higher than the admissible value both in the soil and underground. The most significant parameter from a toxicological point of view is thallium, which has its maximum concentration in the soils located near the industrial area of Brindisi.
Buccolieri
G
G
Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali, University of Lecce, via per Arnesano, I-73100 Lecce, Italy.
Cardellicchio
N
N
Dell'Atti
A
A
Di Leo
A
A
Genga
A
A
Strisciullo
G
G
D000383:Agriculture; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007221:Industry; D007558:Italy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants