title: Annual variation in the levels of metals and PCDD/PCDFs in soil and herbage samples collected near a cement plant.
abstract: In May 2000, the levels of a number of metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, V and Zn) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in soil and herbage samples collected near a cement plant from Sta. Margarida i els Monjos (Catalonia, Spain). To determine the temporal variation in the concentrations of metals and PCDD/PCDFs, in May 2001 soil and herbage samples were again collected at the same sampling points and analyzed for the levels of metals and PCDD/PCDFs. In general terms, metal concentrations in soils did not change between May 2000 and May 2001, while significant decreases in the levels of Cr, Ni and V were found in herbage. On the other hand, no significant differences in the mean I-TEQ values of PCDD/PCDFs were found in soil and herbage samples. The results of this survey show that according to the annual variation in the levels of metals and PCDD/PCDFs the environmental impact of the cement plant on the area under its direct influence is not relevant.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, "Rovira I Virgili" University, San Lorenzo 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuhmacher
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Agramunt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bocio
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domingo
authors.forename: H A M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: de Kok
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007221:Industry; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants