title: Heavy metals and trace elements in atmospheric fall-out: their relationship with topsoil and wheat element composition.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine the average concentrations and deposition rates of 28 elements in atmospheric bulk deposition and to elucidate associations among topsoil, bulk deposition and wheat element composition. The fluxes of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) deposition in Córdoba were higher than in other agro-ecosystems, which reflects both natural (geochemistry and topsoil removal) and anthropogenic sources. High lanthanide, uranium (U) and thorium (Th) concentrations revealed the impact of an open cast uranium mine. The highest enrichment factors (EF) were those of Cu, Pb, Zn and nickel (Ni), with calcium (Ca) being the most prominent in the surroundings of a cement plant. Industries and the transport of airborne urban pollutants were the main anthropogenic sources for Ca, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and antimony (Sb). The concentrations of metals in wheat grain were predicted using the topsoil and atmospheric fall-out composition with R(2)=0.90, with the latter being the best explanatory variable. The present study highlights the potential health hazards of wheat consumption (Environmental Protection Agency) by the assessment of heavy metals in bulk atmospheric deposition.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET, Argentina. gbermudez@com.uncor.edu
authors.forename: Gonzalo M A
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bermudez
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jasan
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plá
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pignata
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D001118:Argentina; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004602:Elements; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D017942:Nitric Acid; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D011786:Quality Control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004602:Elements; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D017942:Nitric Acid; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; C022102:aqua regia