title: Metal contamination of home garden soils and cultivated vegetables in the province of Brescia, Italy: implications for human exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For the past century, ferroalloy industries in Brescia province, Italy produced particulate emissions enriched in manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al). This study assessed metal concentrations in soil and vegetables of regions with varying ferroalloy industrial activity levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Home gardens (n=63) were selected in three regions of varying ferroalloy plant activity durations in Brescia province. Total soil metal concentration and extractability were measured by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), aqua regia extraction, and modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction. Unwashed and washed spinach and turnips cultivated in the same gardens were analyzed for metal concentrations by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median soil Al, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in home gardens near ferroalloy plants compared to reference home gardens. The BCR method yielded the most mobile soil fraction (the sum of extractable metals in Fractions 1 and 2) and all metal concentrations were higher in ferroalloy plant areas. Unwashed spinach showed higher metal concentrations compared to washed spinach. However, some metals in washed spinach were higher in the reference area likely due to history of agricultural product use. Over 60% of spinach samples exceeded the 2- to 4-fold Commission of European Communities and Codex Alimentarius Commission maximum Pb concentrations, and 10% of the same spinach samples exceeded 2- to 3-fold maximum Cd concentrations set by both organizations. Turnip metal concentrations were below maximum standard reference values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged industrial emissions increase median metal concentrations and most soluble fractions (BCR F1+F2) in home garden soils near ferroalloy plants. Areas near ferroalloy plant sites had spinach Cd and Pb metal concentrations several-fold above maximum standard references. We recommend thorough washing of vegetables to minimize metal exposure.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Public Health Service, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guazzetti
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donna
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Chemistry, Metal Laboratory, IZSLER, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Chemistry, Metal Laboratory, IZSLER, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curatolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Chemistry, Metal Laboratory, IZSLER, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moneta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Università Cattolica, Piacenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Beone
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Italy; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Roberto G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lucchini
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D051639:Gardening; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Brescia; Ferroalloy industry emissions; Italy; Metal; Modified BCR sequential extraction procedure; Phytoavailability; Plant uptake; Vegetables