title: Assessment of human exposure to environmental heavy metals in soils and bryophytes of the central region of Portugal.
abstract: This study intends to identify the spatial patterns of variation for some metals and metalloids, in soils and mosses, in the central region of Portugal. The purposes were: (i) to identify relationships amongst five elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and As) in three different media (topsoil, bottom soil and bryophytes) and with some site-specific characteristics, using Multiple Correspondence Analysis; (ii) to define spatial patterns of variation for the associations identified by Multiple Correspondence Analysis using Variography and Ordinary Kriging; and (iii) to assess atmospheric deposition as a source of heavy metals to the topsoil by crossing results with the biomonitors. The results indicated relatively low metal concentrations in soils and mosses. Some metal associations and dissociations were identified. The spatial patterns of variation of bottom and topsoil are distinct. There is some evidence that different site-specific characteristics control the spatial distribution of different elements. The areas within the central region of Portugal with a higher vulnerability to metal contamination were identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geosciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. pmarinho@ua.pt
authors.forename: Amélia Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Patinha
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferreira da Silva
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sérgio
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novais
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D011174:Portugal; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants