Heavy metals contents in agricultural topsoils in the Ebro basin (Spain). Application of the multivariate geoestatistical methods to study spatial variations.
In this work the content of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) and other parameters (the pH, organic matter, carbonates and granulometric fraction) in agricultural topsoil in the Ebro basin are quantified, based on 624 samples collected according to an 8 by 8 km square mesh. The average concentrations (mg/kg) obtained were: Cd 0.415+/-0.163, Cr 20.27+/-13.21, Cu 17.33+/-14.97, Ni 20.50+/-22.71, Pb 17.54+/-10.41, Zn 17.53+/-24.19 and Hg 35.6+/-42.05 microg/kg. The concentration levels are relatively low in areas of high pH and low organic matter content concentration. The results of factor analysis group Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in F1 and Cr y Ni in F2. The spatial heavy metals component maps based on geostatistical analysis, show definite association of these factors with the soil parent material. The local anomalies (found in Cu, Zn and Pb) are attributed to anthropogenic influence.
I N I A, Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Ctra. de La Coruña 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain. rmartin@inia.es
José Antonio
JA
Rodríguez Martín
Manuel López
ML
Arias
José Manuel
JM
Grau Corbí
D000383:Agriculture; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D002857:Chromium; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D009532:Nickel; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc