Industrial development and population growth have increased heavy metal concentrations in soils and impacted soil quality. In this scenario, environmental protection agencies have been concerned with establishing heavy metal quality reference values (QRV) that may identify contaminated sites. The study was carried out to provide soil reference values for the metals Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn in soils of the State of Rio Grande do Norte according to Brazilian legislation. The study analyzed […]

Measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence can be a useful tool for detecting changes in the photosynthetic apparatus of plants. With the understanding that early detection of zinc (Zn) contamination is fundamental in environmental monitoring, the aim of this study was to assess Zn stress in castor bean (Ricinus communis) plants using X-ray chlorophyll fluorescence. The changes brought about by Zn in photosynthetic pigments and in the mineral composition of plants were also studied. Castor bean plants were grown for 28 days […]

Located in the Midwest of the State of Minas Gerais, a region called Quadrilátero Ferrífero covers an area of approximately 7,000 km2. Since the seventeenth century, it is known as gold- and iron-producing province, and the geological context is therefore one of the best-studied of Brazil. The regional topography is very rugged, with mostly poorly developed pedogenesis, especially Cambissolos Háplicos, Neossolos Litólicos and Neossolos Regolíticos. In a smaller proportion and on colluvial ramps (hilly relief), very Fe-rich Latossolos Vermelhos occur, […]

Soil contamination by Pb poses a significant risk to human health. The municipality of Santo Amaro da Purificação, Bahia, Brazil, has one of the most severe cases of contamination of this metal in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of humic acids and activated charcoal as soil amendments for reducing the toxicity of Pb to corn plants grown in contaminated soil collected near the area of the company responsible for the contamination. Application rates […]

Successive applications of pig slurry and pig deep litter may lead to an accumulation of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) fractions in the soil profile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Cu and Zn forms and accumulation in a Sandy Typic Hapludalf soil after long-term application of pig slurry and deep litter. In March 2010, eight years after initiating an experiment in Braço do Norte, Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil, on a Sandy Typic Hapludalf soil, soil samples […]

The monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in areas under intensive agriculture is essential for the agricultural sustainability and food safety. This paper evaluates the total contents of heavy metals in soils and mango trees in orchards of different ages (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 19, and 26 years) in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. Soil samples were taken from the layers 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, and mango leaves were collected in the growth stage. Areas of native […]

Tests for bioaccessibility are useful in human health risk assessment. No research data with the objective of determining bioaccessible arsenic (As) in areas affected by gold mining and smelting activities have been published so far in Brazil. Samples were collected from four areas: a private natural land reserve of Cerrado; mine tailings; overburden; and refuse from gold smelting of a mining company in Paracatu, Minas Gerais. The total, bioaccessible and Mehlich-1-extractable As levels were determined. Based on the reproducibility and […]

Fertilizers and lime can carry several micronutrients as residual impurities, which can become a source of these elements for crops. This study quantified the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni in fertilizers and lime sold in northeastern Brazil. The effect of these inputs on the indirect micronutrient supply to crops was evaluated. Extracts were obtained from 24 fertilizer and 26 lime samples, using the method 3051A (USEPA) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for elemental analysis. A fertilizer sample (SRM […]

Heavy metals are a group of elements with specific features and natural occurrence in the environment, representing an accessory in the formation of rocks. These elements, although associated with toxicity, must be treated different from xenobiotics, since many metals are evidentially essentials (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni) and beneficial (Co) for plants. In this context, the objective was to determine the natural contents of the metals iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) […]

Nickel, although essential to plants, may be toxic to plants and animals. It is mainly assimilated by food ingestion. However, information about the average levels of elements (including Ni) in edible vegetables from different regions is still scarce in Brazil. The objectives of this study were to: (a) evaluate and optimize a method for preparation of vegetable tissue samples for Ni determination; (b) optimize the analytical procedures for determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) and by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption […]