Natural and anthropogenic lead in soils and vegetables around Guiyang city, southwest China: a Pb isotopic approach.
Soils, vegetables and rainwaters from three vegetable production bases in the Guiyang area, southwest China, were analyzed for Pb concentrations and isotope compositions to trace its sources in the vegetables and soils. Lead isotopic compositions were not distinguishable between yellow soils and calcareous soils, but distinguishable among sampling sites. The highest (207)Pb/(206)Pb and (208)Pb/(206)Pb ratios were found for rainwaters (0.8547-0.8593 and 2.098-2.109, respectively), and the lowest for soils (0.7173-0.8246 and 1.766-2.048, respectively). The (207)Pb/(206)Pb and (208)Pb/(206)Pb ratios increased in vegetables in the order of roots<stems<leaves<fruits. Plots of the (207)Pb/(206)Pb ratios versus the (208)Pb/(206)Pb ratios from all samples formed a straight line and supported a binary end-member mixing model for Pb in vegetables. Using deep soils and rainwaters as geogenic and anthropogenic end members in the mixing model, it was estimated that atmospheric Pb contributed 30-77% to total Pb for vegetable roots, 43-71% for stems, 72-85% for leaves, and 90% for capsicum fruits, whereas 10-70% of Pb in all vegetable parts was derived from soils. This research supports that heavy metal contamination in vegetables can result mainly from atmospheric deposition, and Pb isotope technique is useful for tracing the sources of Pb contamination in vegetables.
College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China.
Fei-Li
FL
Li
Cong-Qiang
CQ
Liu
Yuan-Gen
YG
Yang
Xiang-Yang
XY
Bi
Tao-Ze
TZ
Liu
Zhi-Qi
ZQ
Zhao
D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D011891:Rain; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
D007554:Isotopes; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead