CHEMICAL ELEMENTS ANALYSIS OF THE SOIL AT AN URBANIZATION GRADIENT IN THE ATLANTIC FOREST

Thaís Jorge De Vasconcellos,Cátia Henriques Callado,Nattacha Dos Santos Moreira,Ramon Silva Dos Santos,Marcelino José Dos Anjos

doi:10.1590/1806-908820210000004

Thaís Jorge De Vasconcellos, Cátia Henriques Callado + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-908820210000004

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Journal: Revista Árvore	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2021
License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Rio de Janeiro State University

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest is home to the largest urban centers in Brazil, which modify various aspects of the natural quality of this forest. Soil chemical elements from three different sites in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro were analyzed: (1) the best-preserved remnant of Atlantic Forest in the state; (2) the largest urban forest in the world; and (3) an arboretum along the main vehicle route in the second-largest city in Brazil. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis detected sixteen chemical elements including nutrient components and potentially toxic elements. The urban soil had a higher concentration of heavy metals. There was a significant concentration gradient of copper and lead from the urban site to the furthest forest site. We emphasize that the results indicate potential negative consequences for the conservation of forests and wildlife of state of Rio de Janeiro.

Highlights

The composition of soil surface layer may be significantly affected by elements from its natural constitution or by anthropogenic sources (KabataPendias 2011; Tume et al, 2017; Rodríguez-Eugenio et al, 2018)
Urban soils are strongly affected by anthropogenic activities and high concentrations of heavy metals have been found at these sites (Wei and Yang, 2010; Lopes et al, 2015; Tume et al, 2018)
This study showed that higher concentrations of potassium and manganese in the forest remnants soils, and that higher concentrations of heavy metals, such as nickel, chromium, copper, zinc and lead, are in the urban site, indicating the negative effects of urban anthropic activities

Summary

Introduction

The composition of soil surface layer may be significantly affected by elements from its natural constitution or by anthropogenic sources (KabataPendias 2011; Tume et al, 2017; Rodríguez-Eugenio et al, 2018). Urban soils are strongly affected by anthropogenic activities and high concentrations of heavy metals have been found at these sites (Wei and Yang, 2010; Lopes et al, 2015; Tume et al, 2018). The industrialization and urbanization have been responsible for an increase in heavy metal concentrations in the environment (Nagajyoti et al, 2010; Zhu et al, 2013). Upon entering the soil of forest ecosystems, pollutants can directly affect plants and/or threaten the functioning, composition and structure of the ecosystem itself, as well as interfere with several processes related to nutrient cycling (Furlan et al, 2008; Mahajan et al, 2019; Małkowski et al, 2019)

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