Lead Concentrations In Soil Research Articles

Spatial distribution of lead in soils of Pb-Zn mining and smelting area of the Mitrovica Region, Republic of Kosovo

ABSTRACTAn area of 301 km2 in the Mitrovica region, Republic of Kosovo, was selected in order to evaluate the lead distribution in the soil. In total, 156 surface soil samples (0 to 5 cm) were collected. The lead content was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). It was found that the average content of lead in the surface soil is 450 mg/kg (with a range of 35–35000 mg/kg). For the entire study area 93% of the samples had lead levels above 100 mg/kg, eight samples below 100 mg/kg and only one sample had lead levels at 30 mg/kg. The effects of mining and metallurgical activities were further assessed using the enrichment factor (EF) value. The lead average exceeded the optimum value specified in the New Dutchlist by five times, while EU average value exceeded it up to 20 times. An area of 113 km2 of the study area was enriched with Pb higher than the action value (530 mg/kg) while 287 km2 had significant concentration levels with Pb (358 mg/kg) higher than the optimal value (85 mg/kg), according to New Dutchlist.

On-site detection of heavy metals in agriculture land by a disposable sensor based virtual instrument

A field-based detection system was designed and implemented for the simultaneous determination of heavy metals in soil samples. The detection principle is based on electrochemical differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). In order to fulfill the requirements of field screening usage, a fast soil pretreatment process using ultrasonic-assisted extraction was applied. A disposable and integrated sensor, incorporating a three-electrode configuration (working electrode, reference electrode and counter electrode), was fabricated by the screen-printing technology and further modified with Nafion polymer and bismuth film. Coupled with the portable and flexible analysis instrument which was developed by virtual instrument technology, this system was used for trace determination of cadmium and lead content in soil. For accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of heavy metals, the detection methodology based on the statistical algorithm and chemometrics method was proposed. The results showed that the system was sensitive, reliable and effective, which might hold great promise for its on-site analysis applications.

Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Explore Backyard Gardening Practices and Soil Lead Concentrations in Urban Neighborhoods.

Lead exposure is a serious health threat for children. Soil is an important exposure pathway, primarily through ingestion and inhalation. Urban agriculture is increasing. Potential environmental health risks associated with residential gardening may not be well known to community residents. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was implemented to explore the relationship between urban residential vegetable gardening and lead exposure in children. The primary objectives were to characterize local backyard vegetable gardening practices, measure residential and commercial soil lead concentrations and spatial distributions, and identify priorities for individual and collective action. Participants were recruited in two stages. In phase 1, adult gardeners participated in structured interviews. In phase 2, a multistage representative sampling approach was implemented to recruit adult gardeners for interviews and soil testing. Twenty adults participated in gardening practice interviews. Adults perceive many benefits from backyard gardening and initially expressed few concerns about lead exposure risk. Results indicate that children are actively involved in backyard gardening. Total soil lead concentrations from 17 residential properties ranged from 7 to 3,234 mg kg-1(median, 187; mean, 432). Commercial soils had lead concentrations that ranged from 6 to 13 mg kg(-1) (median, 6.5; mean, 7.6). Nonparametric Mann-Whitney comparisons indicated a significant difference in lead concentration between commercial soil and residential soil (p<0.0001). Advocacy for resources needed to eliminate dangerous levels of lead from the environment, especially in communities where divestment has occurred, is enhanced through CBPR. Increasing access to soil testing is an important action step.

Efficiency of E. microtheica and E. camaldulensis Tree to Remove Lead Element (Pb) from the Province of Baghdad Environment

The lead concentration in soil and of plant (Eucalyptus) samples from different areas in Baghdad city (Zafarana, Sheikh Omar Street and Al Zawara Park). The results shows that the concentration of lead element is higher than the world average of uncontaminated soils. Depending on the results of the Geoaccumulation index it can be seen that the soil samples collected from Al Zawara Park were moderately polluted while the soil samples collected from the Zafarana district were moderate to severely contaminated and the soil samples collected from the Sheikh Omar street were heavily contaminated with lead element and this is clearly evident as a result of the impact of industrial activity in the region. Furthermore, the highest values of BCF were observed in Al Zawara Park and this evidence may be related to the plant age in this area.

Using CBPR to Explore Backyard Gardening Practices and Soil Lead Concentrations in Urban Neighborhoods

Using CBPR to Explore Backyard Gardening Practices and Soil Lead Concentrations in Urban Neighborhoods

Environmental impact in a rural community due to a lead recycling plant in Zacatecas, Mexico

A study was conducted to determine the concentrations of lead in soil and plants samples due to the exposure of emission from a metal-recycling plant in a rural community in Zacatecas, Mexico. The lead levels in the soils were determined as having cultivated crops, medicinal plants, and wild plants. Also, other potential sources of lead exposure, as firewood, a cooking glazed vessel, and soils from three houses were analyzed. Samples were analyzed with the energy dispersive X-ray technique. The average lead soil sample was 4940 µg/g, and the Pb average levels in firewood ashes was 207 ± 73 μg/g. The mean lead concentrations in edible parts of Zea mays, Capsicum annuum, and Avena sativa were 1551, 1474, and 1056 μg/g, respectively. Wild plants species showed very high lead concentration especially Acacia schaffneri, Buddleja scordioides, Tillandsia recurvata, Opuntia streptacantha and Amaranthus hybridus. The lead contamination path was through the emission of the metal-recycling plant.

Spatial Characterization of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Lead Concentrations in Tobacco Leaves and Soil

ABSTRACTMetal accumulation in tobacco may have negative environmental and health impacts. The concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead were determined in 300 tobacco plants by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The plant-available concentrations of metals in the soil were measured. The metal concentrations in tobacco leaves were dependent on the variety of plant. The concentrations of arsenic and lead in leaves decreased in higher positions compared to lower locations, whereas cadmium showed the opposite trend. The accumulation of metals in leaves increased with the concentrations of plant-available and total metals in the soil. The leaf concentrations were also affected by the soil pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter.

Environmental Remediation to Address Childhood Lead Poisoning Epidemic due to Artisanal Gold Mining in Zamfara, Nigeria.

Background:From 2010 through 2013, integrated health and environmental responses addressed an unprecedented epidemic lead poisoning in Zamfara State, northern Nigeria. Artisanal gold mining caused widespread contamination resulting in the deaths of > 400 children. Socioeconomic, logistic, and security challenges required remediation and medical protocols within the context of local resources, labor practices, and cultural traditions.Objectives:Our aim was to implement emergency environmental remediation to abate exposures to 17,000 lead poisoned villagers, to facilitate chelation treatment of children ≤ 5 years old, and to establish local technical capacity and lead health advocacy programs to prevent future disasters.Methods:U.S. hazardous waste removal protocols were modified to accommodate local agricultural practices. Remediation was conducted over 4 years in three phases, progressing from an emergency response by international personnel to comprehensive cleanup funded and accomplished by the Nigerian government.Results:More than 27,000 m3 of contaminated soils and mining waste were removed from 820 residences and ore processing areas in eight villages, largely by hand labor, and disposed in constructed landfills. Excavated areas were capped with clean soils (≤ 25 mg/kg lead), decreasing soil lead concentrations by 89%, and 2,349 children received chelation treatment. Pre-chelation geometric mean blood lead levels for children ≤ 5 years old decreased from 149 μg/dL to 15 μg/dL over the 4-year remedial program.Conclusions:The unprecedented outbreak and response demonstrate that, given sufficient political will and modest investment, the world’s most challenging environmental health crises can be addressed by adapting proven response protocols to the capabilities of host countries.Citation:Tirima S, Bartrem C, von Lindern I, von Braun M, Lind D, Anka SM, Abdullahi A. 2016. Environmental remediation to address childhood lead poisoning epidemic due to artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Environ Health Perspect 124:1471–1478; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510145

Spatial Dissemination of Some Heavy Metals in Soil Adjacent to &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Bhaluka&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Industrial Area, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Heavy metals released from industries causes severe environmental pollution in developing countries. This study has been conducted to evaluate the intensity of heavy metals pollution in soil at 0, 30 and 60 m distances from waste carrying canal of Bhaluka industrial area of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) concentrations in soils decreased gradually with the increase of distance from waste canal. Maximum concentration was found at 60 to 0 m distance varied from 67.13–90.93, 52.23–76.73, 32.75–133.85, 61.18–422.10, 26900–36900 and 240–540 µg g-1 for Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, respectively. Geoaccumulation index showing that the soil was moderately polluted for Pb and Zn. Pollution load index values>1.0, explaining pollution load was increased adjacent to industrial area and deteriorate the quality of surface soils day by day. Contamination factor for Pb, Cu and Zn were very high indicating these metals as the major soil pollutants came from anthropogenic sources which was supported by enrichment factor values (>5). The extent of pollution in adjacent to this industrial area implies the condition becoming worse and alarming for biota and inhabitants of that area.

Contenidos de plomo en acelga común Beta vulgaris L., producida en el contexto de la agricultura urbana (Bogotá, Colombia)

Cultivated soil, irrigation water and the atmosphere are among the possible forms of contamination with lead of vegetables, the latter due to suspension of the particles resulting from the combustion, mainly hydrocarbons. In order to be able to determine the levels of lead present in common Chard Beta vulgaris L. produced in the context of urban agriculture, a vegetable garden with this production system was implemented in the city, which is located at coordinates: Latitude 4°42'39.6036 and Longitude 74°5'46.6152, less than 500 meters away from two main vehicular roads in the city of Bogota. Before sowing, two types of analysis were performed: lead content in cultivated soil and irrigation water, with the purpose of obtaining a preliminary diagnosis of the contents of this heavy metal in these two possible sources of contamination. The productive system work related to culture practices were made using traditional methods, therefore no fertilization was performed and there was no intervention of any type of product for pest management with the aim of avoiding bias in this study. At harvest time, 10% of the total of plants population planted was randomly selected; this sample was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry through the AOAC official method 968.08 yielding a result of 0 ppm of lead. These results allow the confirmation that urban farming is an alternative that promotes food security, not only from the intake of macro and micro nutrients aspect, but also from the of quality and food safety point of view, since for lead was not detect in the plant tissue.

Total polyphenols content in fruits of selected cultivars of strawberries in relation to concentrations of cadmium and lead in soil

The key aim of our study was to define the correlation of total polyphenols contents in seven cultivars of strawberries (Clery, Sonata, Alba, Korona, Ázia juh, Anthea, Joly) grown in the parcels with exceeded levels of pseudo-total Cd and mobile Pb in soil. Strawberries were grown in rows long 200 m, the distance of the plants was 0.35 m and inter-row distance was 1 m. Following fertilizing was applied - at the beginning of vegetation period the doses of elements (in kg.ha-1) were: N48.2 +P78.3 +K66.3 +Mg7.2, afterwards 23 days of elements were applied in liquid irrigation in amount: N46.5 +P34.8 +K118.7. Heavy metals in contamination soil were analysed by the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy and total contents of polyphenols spectrophotometrically. The highest content of all monitored parameters (pseudo-total and mobile Cd and Pb, as well as the amount of total polyphenols) was found in Ázia juh cultivar. There was statistically significant positive relation of total polyphenols contents in Anthea cultivar to levels of all monitored forms of metals in soil and contrary, in Clery cultivar there was found non-correlation of total polyphenols contents on levels of monitored heavy metals in soil (mainly of mobile contents of Cd and Pb contents). Contents of mobile forms of individual heavy metals positively correlated with total polyphenols (except of Clery and Ázia juh cultivars). Varietal relation on levels of total polyphenols was confirmed in experiment prior to relation of these organic compounds to the presence of monitored heavy metals in soil.

Comparative study of heavy metals concentration in topsoil of urban green space and agricultural land uses.

The main objective of this study was to determine the concentration of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc in surface soils of two land uses including agricultural and urban green space in Semnan Province, Iran. For this purpose, the soil samples of 27 urban green space and 47 agricultural fields were collected and analyzed. The correlation coefficients, analysis of variance, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and geoaccumulation index were utilized to compare the mean values in the two land uses and pinpoint the possible sources of contamination in the study area. The average contents of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in green space soils were 0.1, 24.9, 78.7, 28.2, 22.1, and 82.1mg/kg, respectively, while the mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in agricultural soils were 0.3, 24.3, 83.7, 33.3, 18.1, and 80.4mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of lead, copper, and zinc were higher in urban green space in comparison with those of agricultural fields, while it was vice versa for chromium, cadmium, and nickel. In general, significant, but weak, correlations were observed between Zn with Pb (r=0.53) and Cu (r=0.61) and Ni with Cr (r=0.55) and Cu(r=0.51). The main sources of contamination turned out to be both natural and anthropogenic as the results of correlation coefficients, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis showed. That is to say, chromium and nickel had emanated from natural while the sources of cadmium, lead, and zinc could be attributed to anthropogenic activities. For the case of copper, both natural and anthropogenic activities were influential; however, the role of human activities was more effective. The results of contamination assessment showed that heavy metal contamination in agricultural land use was higher than green space indicating the role of human activities in this respect.

Lead Contamination and Pollution Indexes in Roadside Soil in Tehran, Iran

Background and purpose: In the process of rapid urbanization and industrialization in developing countries, environmental pollution is a major concern. One of the fastest growing problems of environmental pollution is an excessive intake of lead in urban soils. Lead concentrations in urban soil may result from human activities such as vehicle emissions and industrial activities. This study aimed to determine of lead contents in roadside soil samples in Tehran city, Iran. Materials and Methods: One of Tehran municipality’s subsections was selected for the collection of 21 samples from seven stations along a main urban highway. In this study, samples were taken over a period of 3-month in the dry season. Sampling was performed in the order of 100 m long, perpendicular to the roadside at 0, 50, and 100 m from the road. Lab measurements were performed on the physical and chemical properties of samples. The extraction was performed using four kinds of acids (HCL, HNO3, HF, and HCLO4). Results: Lead concentrations were measured by a spectrophotometer with an average concentration of lead in soil samples of roadsides standing at 112.21 part a million (PPM), and the average lead bio-accessibility at 14.19 PPM. Conclusion: Lead concentrations showed a linear decrement in proportion to the distance from center line of the road. Human cultural activities were sources of lead pollution by examine soil contamination indexes. [Yousefi M, *Ehteshami M, Sadrnejad SA. Lead Contamination and Pollution Indexes in Roadside Soil in Tehran, Iran. Iran J Health Sci 2015; 3(4): 8-23] http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir

The effect of motor vehicle emission towards lead (Pb) content of rice field soil with different clay content

Motor vehicle gas emission contains lead (Pb) which is a hazardous and toxic substance. Agricultural land, especially rice field, which is located nearby roads passed by many motor vehicle, are susceptible to the accumulation of Pb. If Pb is permeated by plants cultivated in the rice field, it will be very hazardous for humans as they are the final consumers. Hence, it is essential to identify Pb content of rice-field soil initiated by motor vehicle gas emission. This study was aimed to identify the effects of motor vehicle density, the distance between rice-field and road, and the clay content of soil towards Pb content of soils in Blitar and Ngawi Regencies of East Java. The method used for the study was survey method managed by using three-factor nested design with three replicates. The results of this study showed that motor vehicle density and the distance of rice field to road provide significant affected the total of Pb content of soil. However, the dissemination pattern of Pb in the soil was irregular due to the factors of climate and environment. Before Pb reached soil surface, Pb was spread out in the air due to the effect of temperature, wind velocity, vehicle velocity, size of vehicle, and road density. Consequently, the location with low motor vehicle density and positioned faraway to the road had higher total rate of Pb than the location with high motor vehicle density and positioned nearby the road. Clay content affected the total rate of Pb content as much as 37%, every 1% increase of clay content increased the total rate of Pb as much as 0.08 mg/kg.

Lead in soils and pine tree bark (Pinus sylvestris L.) from park area exposed to automotive contamination / Ołów w glebach i korze sosny (Pinus sylvestris L.) z obszaru parkowego, narażonego na zanieczyszczenia motoryzacyjne

Abstract The primary source of soils and plants contamination with heavy metals is rapidly growing traffic. One of the places exposed to harmful effect of vehicle exhaust is Leśny Park Kultury and Wypoczynku in Myślęcinek (LPKiW) near Bydgoszcz. Along LPKiW goes a communication road, which may be the source of environment contamination with heavy metals. The main threat for arable areas and forests is lead (Pb), originating from tetraethyl lead, used until recently as an additive in gasoline. The aim of the conducted research was to determine the influence of traffic on the content of lead in soils and pine trees bark on the area of LPKiW located in the close vicinity of a busy traffic route. The research material was collected along the outlet route to A1 highway in the distance of 50 - 75 m from the edge of the road, from 13 representative research points. The content of lead in the research material was determined using ASA method after the mineralization of samples with microwave technique. In surface horizons of the investigated soils the total contents of Pb ranged from 11.71 to 40.58 mg·kg-1, and in subsurface horizons ranged from 8.61 to 9.41 mg·kg-1. The characteristic feature of the investigated soils is the higher accumulation of Pb in surface horizons, which is associated with its absorption by organic matter and clay minerals. The obtained results and literature data as compared with Pb content in reference samples show the influence of vehicles emissions on the Pb content

Assessment of the root system of Brassica juncea (L.) czern. and Bidens pilosa L. exposed to lead polluted soils using rhizobox systems

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to compare the behavior of the root system of one of the most frequently cited species in phytoremediation Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] and a representative perennial herb (Bidens pilosa L.) native of Argentina, for different concentrations of lead in soils through chemical and visualization techniques of the rhizosphere. Lead polluted soils from the vicinity of a lead recycling plant in the locality of Bouwer, were used in juxtaposed rhizobox systems planted with seedlings of B. juncea and B. pilosa with homogeneous and heterogeneous soil treatments. Root development, pH changes in the rhizosphere, dry weight biomass, lead content of root and aerial parts and potential extraction of lead by rhizosphere exudates were determined. In both species lead was mainly accumulated in roots. However, although B. juncea accumulated more lead than B. pilosa at elevated concentrations in soils, the latter achieved greater root and aerial development. No changes in the pH of the rhizosphere associated to lead were observed, despite different extractive potentials of lead in the exudates of the species analyzed. Our results indicated that Indian mustard did not behave as a hyperaccumulator in the conditions of the present study.

Uncertainty Evaluation of Soil Lead Content Based on Sequential Indicator Method at County Scale

Uncertainty Evaluation of Soil Lead Content Based on Sequential Indicator Method at County Scale

Effects of high soil lead concentration on photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in Brassica chinensis L.

Effects of high soil lead concentration on photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence in Brassica chinensis L.

A Robust Fuzzy Neural Network Model for Soil Lead Estimation from Spectral Features

Soil lead content is an important parameter in environmental and industrial applications. Chemical analysis, the most commonly method for studying soil samples, are costly, however application of soil spectroscopy presents a more viable alternative. The first step in the method is usually to extract some appropriate spectral features and then regression models are applied to these extracted features. The aim of this paper was to design an accurate and robust regression technique to estimate soil lead contents from laboratory observed spectra. Three appropriate spectral features were selected according to information from other research as well as the spectrum interpretation of field collected soil samples containing lead. These features were then applied to common Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) and Neural Network (NN) regression models. Results showed that although NN had adequate accuracy, it produced unstable results (i.e., variation of response in different runs). This problem was addressed with application of a Fuzzy Neural Network (FNN) with a least square training strategy. In addition to the stabilized and unique response, the capability of the proposed FNN was proved in terms of regression accuracy where a Ratio of Performance to Deviation (RPD) of 8.76 was achieved for test samples.

ECOLOGICAL GEOINFORMATION SYSTEMS AS A TOOL FOR ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF KIZILYURT CITY

Astract. Aim. Research of ecological and geochemical pollution of soils of Kizilyurt city with use of GIS for an assessment of an ecological condition of an urban area as indicator of a sustainable development. Methods. Investigation in field conditions and by methods of chemical analyses of tests of soil samples. Laboratory and analytical researches are executed by using of the standard techniques on the nuclear and absorbing spectrophotometer. Mathematical and statistical methods are applied. Ecological maps and relational Databases are constructed by using of GIS-technologies. Results. The analysis of results of urban soils on the content of heavy metals showed that the greatest contribution to complex pollution of soils of the city is made by lead. The raised content of lead in soils of the city proves the fact of that the soil is the long-term concentrator of pollyutants. Distribution of lead pollution speaks from positions of intensity of an automobile stream. Data on the content of lead in soils of an urban soils indicate essential dispersion of indicators of a mobile form (from 18 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg). Excess is observed not only in comparison with the background contents, also repeatedly (from 3rd to 16 times) indicators of maximum permissible concentration of lead are exceeded. Zc values vary from values 7,2 to 12,1 in various points of the city depending on an arrangement in relation to highways or the industrial enterprises. Main conclusions. On a estimating scale of pollution danger of Kizilyurt soil treat category "moderately dangerous" and "dangerous" pollution by heavy metals. The ecological assessment of city soils shows an adverse and dangerous situation for population health. The relational Database of environmental monitoring of natural and technogenic systems on the example of Kizilyurt city is created. According to an ecological and geochemical assessment digital geoinformation cartographical models of a condition of an urban area are constructed.