title: Metals in residential soils and cumulative risk assessment in Yaqui and Mayo agricultural valleys, northern Mexico.
abstract: This investigation examines the extent of soil metal pollution associated with the Green Revolution, relative to agricultural activities and associated risks to health in the most important agricultural region of Mexico. Metal contents in bulk soil samples are commonly used to assess contamination, and metal accumulations in soils are usually assumed to increase with decreasing particle size. This study profiled the spatial distribution of metals (Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu, Fe, Cd, V, Hg, Co, P, Se, and Mn) in bulk soil and fine-grained fractions (soil-derived dust) from 22 towns and cities. The contamination of soil was assessed through the use of a geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and pollution index (PI). The results of this study indicated that a number of towns and cities are moderately to highly polluted by soil containing Be, Co, Hg, P, S, V, Zn, Se, Cr, and Pb in both size fractions (coarse and fine). Hazard index in fine fraction (HI(children)=2.1) shows that risk assessment based on Co, Mn, V, and Ni spatially related to power plants, have the potential to pose health risks to local residents, especially children. This study shows that risk assessment based on metal content in bulk soil could be overestimated when compared to fine-grained fraction. Our results provide important information that could be valuable in establishing risk assessment associated with residential soils within agricultural areas, where children can ingest and inhale dust.
authors: Departamento de Recursos Naturales, Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora, 5 de Febrero 818 Sur, 85000, Cd. Obregón, Sonora, Mexico.
authors: Maria M
authors: MM
authors: Meza-Montenegro
authors: A Jay
authors: AJ
authors: Gandolfi
authors: María Ernestina
authors: ME
authors: Santana-Alcántar
authors: Walter T
authors: WT
authors: Klimecki
authors: María Guadalupe
authors: MG
authors: Aguilar-Apodaca
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Del Río-Salas
authors: Margarita
authors: M
authors: De la O-Villanueva
authors: Agustín
authors: A
authors: Gómez-Alvarez
authors: Héctor
authors: H
authors: Mendivil-Quijada
authors: Martín
authors: M
authors: Valencia
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Meza-Figueroa
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D008800:Mexico; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil