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Minerals
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Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils
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Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Mineralogy and Biogeochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (13 May 2022) | Viewed by 30623

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pedro Tume

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Guest Editor
Civil Engineering Department, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Interests: soil and groundwater contamination; potentially toxic elements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will provide an interdisciplinary viewpoint applying new  knowledge-based to study the contamination of soils and plants and their location in distintic climatic, and geochemical conditions. This labour requires the development of diverse and holistic approaches (multi-media, multi-analytic and multi-elemental) to evaluate and prevent the pollution. Due to progressive population expansion to abandoned industrial areas as well as other mining, urban, traffic and military areas the research of innovative technology of soil modeling process and remediation is becoming an important theme. Papers of occurrence, migration and accumulation of rare earth and potentially toxic elements in soils and dust (street, attic and household), from different natural (e.g. volcanic activity, forest fire, soil erosion, biological material) and anthropogenic (e.g. vehicular emission, industy, metalurgy, mining, combustion) sources are welcome. The research of dynamics of native and non-native potentially harmful elements and their spatial distribution in soils are necessary for the restoration of polluted sites.

Dr. Pedro Tume
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • potentially toxic elements
  • monitoring
  • polluted area
  • health risk assessment
  • hyperaccumulator plants
  • geochemical baseline

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2728 KiB  
Article
Protected Areas vs. Highway Construction—Problem of Environmental Pollution
by Anna Turek, Kinga Wieczorek, Małgorzata Szczesio and Jakub Kubicki
Minerals 2022, 12(7), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12070838 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2271
Abstract
Landscape parks are protected areas, attractive to live close to and relax in. In parks, economic and agricultural activities are allowed to a limited extent. The high interest in these areas is the cause of unfavorable changes, including environmental contamination. This paper presents [...] Read more.
Landscape parks are protected areas, attractive to live close to and relax in. In parks, economic and agricultural activities are allowed to a limited extent. The high interest in these areas is the cause of unfavorable changes, including environmental contamination. This paper presents the results of soil quality research in Wzniesienia Łódzkie Landscape Park (Poland). The analyses were performed in 2008, before the construction of the highway in the park began, and after its completion in 2016. The contents of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Ni were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), and geographic information system (GIS) were used to assess the impact of different sources on the content of metal in the soil. Over the period of 8 years, there has been an increase in pH and the level of metals, especially nickel. The changes in the metal content result from the different land use, especially abandonment of agricultural activity and emissions related to the construction of the A1 highway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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17 pages, 2829 KiB  
Article
Distribution of Heavy Metals in the Commune of Coronel, Chile
by Jorge Maurelia, Oscar Cornejo, Pedro Tume and Núria Roca
Minerals 2022, 12(3), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12030320 - 4 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2879
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities often produce different emanations, some of them excessive, producing contamination of the soil, water, and/or air. This article analyzes soil conditions in Coronel, Chile, a commune with a large industrial presence, identifying the sources emitting potentially toxic elements, the degree of [...] Read more.
Anthropogenic activities often produce different emanations, some of them excessive, producing contamination of the soil, water, and/or air. This article analyzes soil conditions in Coronel, Chile, a commune with a large industrial presence, identifying the sources emitting potentially toxic elements, the degree of soil contamination, and the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in the area. Ninety-four samples in the study area were analyzed using different methods. Three factors were identified through a principal component analysis (PCA) that explain 83.27% of the variability of the elements. Four factors were identified through the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, making it possible to identify the polluting sources according to the pattern of elements they contain. The sources of these factors were then identified. The most common elements in the soil with a particularly high degree of contamination are nickel, vanadium, and chromium, the latter of which being the element that poses the greatest carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk to children and adults. Additionally, the highest concentrations of chromium and vanadium were identified near industrial areas of the commune. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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16 pages, 2092 KiB  
Article
Potential Loss of Toxic Elements from Slope Arable Soil Erosion into Watershed in Southwest China: Effect of Spatial Distribution and Land-Uses
by Ya Gao, Feipeng Li, Lingchen Mao, Bihan Gu, Changkang Peng, Qiuning Yang, Longchi Lu, Xilin Chen, Daofang Zhang and Hong Tao
Minerals 2021, 11(12), 1422; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11121422 - 15 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2428
Abstract
The watershed-scale distribution and loss of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through soil erosion from slope lands to a watershed has not yet been systematically studied, especially in small mountain watersheds with high geological background PTEs in Southwest China. In this study, the spatial [...] Read more.
The watershed-scale distribution and loss of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through soil erosion from slope lands to a watershed has not yet been systematically studied, especially in small mountain watersheds with high geological background PTEs in Southwest China. In this study, the spatial distribution, loss intensities and ecological risks of 12 PTEs were investigated in 101 soil samples from four types of land use in a typical watershed, Guizhou Province. Moreover, in order to avoid over- or underestimation of the contamination level in such specific geologies with significant variability in natural PTE distribution, the local background values (local BVs) were calculated by statistical methods. The dry arable land had the highest loss intensity of PTEs and was the largest contributor of PTEs (more than 80%) in the watershed, even though it covers a much smaller area compared to the forest land. The loss of Cd, As, Sb, and Hg from slope arable lands into the watershed leads to a relatively high potential ecological risk. The study suggested that both PTEs content with different types of land-uses and intensities of soil loss are of great importance for PTEs’ risk assessment in the small watershed within a high geological background region. Furthermore, in order to reduce the loss of PTEs in soil, the management of agricultural activities in arable land, especially the slope arable land, is necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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18 pages, 3437 KiB  
Article
Heavy Metal Concentrations in Roadside Soils on the Białystok-Budzisko Route in Northeastern Poland
by Mirosław Skorbiłowicz, Elżbieta Skorbiłowicz and Weronika Rogowska
Minerals 2021, 11(11), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11111290 - 20 Nov 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4885
Abstract
Civilization development has contributed to environmental pollution. In recent years, the number of vehicles has increased significantly; according to the Central Statistical Office, the number of passenger cars in Poland in 2000 was nearly 10 million, while in 2020 it was slightly more [...] Read more.
Civilization development has contributed to environmental pollution. In recent years, the number of vehicles has increased significantly; according to the Central Statistical Office, the number of passenger cars in Poland in 2000 was nearly 10 million, while in 2020 it was slightly more than 25 million. The study aimed to determine the content and spatial distribution of trace elements (Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cu) in the roadside topsoil along the trunk road Białystok–Budzisko on different types of land use (urban, rural, agricultural and forestal areas). Forty-five soil samples were collected from a 160 km road section, at intervals of approximately 4 km. Metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals in roadside soils occurred in the following order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. The average contents of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb were higher than the geochemical background values of the Polish soils. Moreover, the values of the Igeo showed for Cd moderate to strong, while for Zn, Cu and Pb, moderate soil contamination. The study indicates that significant metal-binding factors in the studied roadside soils are Fe and Mn oxides. The crucial source of metals is road transport, depending on its intensity, which means amount, type, and speed of vehicles. Moreover, based on the analysis of the course of the factor values and their dynamics, it was observed that the areas where typical activities connected with the population take place (urban and agricultural areas) are additional sources of heavy metals. The results of this paper are relevant to the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in roadside soils. The study can contribute to reducing the concentration of toxic elements in ecosystems due to vehicle emissions with appropriate land-use policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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11 pages, 1595 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Impact of a Motorway on Content andSpatial Distribution of Mercury in Adjacent Agricultural Soils
by Hanna Jaworska and Joanna Klimek
Minerals 2021, 11(11), 1221; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11111221 - 2 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1642
Abstract
The distribution of Hg in the vicinity of roads is probably not exclusively dependent on car emissions, but also on the presence of other point or diffuse sources of Hg emissions located from metres to several km away. The source of mercury in [...] Read more.
The distribution of Hg in the vicinity of roads is probably not exclusively dependent on car emissions, but also on the presence of other point or diffuse sources of Hg emissions located from metres to several km away. The source of mercury in urbanised areas is pollution derived from the burning of fuels and industrial and transport waste, while in agricultural areas, it is constituent in mineral fertilisers and crop protection products. The research objective was to evaluate the content and spatial distribution of mercury in arable soils adjacent to the A1 motorway in Poland. The research material consisted of 40 soil samples taken from 20 test points on four transects at distances of 5, 10, 25 and 50 m from a noise barrier and in the direction of an arable field, and 10 m from the noise barrier in the direction of the motorway. Total mercury content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using an AMA 254 analyser. The spatial relationship between adjacent observations of variables was assessed using Moran’s I overall autocorrelation coefficient. Probability maps of mercury distribution in the field and pollution indicators were elaborated in ArcGIS 10.4.1. using Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation. Analysis of the spatial correlation of Moran’s I showed a lack of spatial dependence between tested points, which may evidence that the motorway does not affect mercury contents in the soil. The elevated mercury content at a single test point may indicate a random event unrelated to the motorway’s operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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14 pages, 1936 KiB  
Article
Concentration, Spatial Distribution and Potential Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals in Stream Sediments of the Misiones Province, Argentina
by Dongjie Zhao, Yuming Chen, Weibo Zhang, Xifeng Chen, Xiufa Chen and Fuliang Zhang
Minerals 2021, 11(10), 1112; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11101112 - 11 Oct 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
One hundred and twenty-eight stream sediment samples were collected in the Misiones province of Argentina by the low-density geochemical mapping project of the China Geological Survey. The analyzed data were used to study the concentration, spatial distribution, local pollution level and potential ecological [...] Read more.
One hundred and twenty-eight stream sediment samples were collected in the Misiones province of Argentina by the low-density geochemical mapping project of the China Geological Survey. The analyzed data were used to study the concentration, spatial distribution, local pollution level and potential ecological risk of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) by factor analysis, geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF) and the Hakanson’s potential ecological risk index (Eir and RI) methods. Results showed that the background values (median) of those elements were 2.97 ppm, 0.13 ppm, 212.60 ppm, 322.53 ppm, 0.013 ppm, 64.42 ppm, 12.58 ppm, and 198.85 ppm, respectively. Except for Hg, the contents of other elements were higher than the abundance of continental crust. The spatial distribution of Cu and Zn in stream sediments were consistent, while that of other elements were different. The factor analysis results implied that Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn were mainly affected by geological background and inherited the characteristics of regional parent rocks. Furthermore, Pb was not only controlled by natural conditions but also related to human activities, while As and Hg represented the anthropogenic sources, and their concentrations were affected by human activities. The results of Igeo and EF told us that Cu was heavily polluted in stream sediments; Pb and Zn were largely mildly polluted; As, Cr, Cd, Ni and Hg were mostly nonpolluted. The ecological risks were ordered as As > Cu > Cd > Pb > Hg > Cr > Ni > Zn. In general, the potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the Misiones province was low, but As and Cu also have a high ecological risk at some sampling points, which should be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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15 pages, 3182 KiB  
Article
Long Term Application of Fertilizers in Eastern Amazon and Effect on Uranium and Thorium Levels in Soils
by Anderson Martins de Souza Braz, Marcondes Lima da Costa, Sílvio Junio Ramos, Roberto Dall’Agnol and Antonio Rodrigues Fernandes
Minerals 2021, 11(9), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11090994 - 10 Sep 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2482
Abstract
In recent years, the use of fertilizers has increased in the Amazon. Phosphate fertilizers, which are commonly used, can present high concentrations of radioelements. In the present study, the activity concentrations of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in Oxisols and Ultisols cultivated with [...] Read more.
In recent years, the use of fertilizers has increased in the Amazon. Phosphate fertilizers, which are commonly used, can present high concentrations of radioelements. In the present study, the activity concentrations of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) in Oxisols and Ultisols cultivated with citrus (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), with 26, 10 and 5 years of implantation, respectively, were evaluated. The potential risk of contamination was estimated by the enrichment (EF) and bioaccumulation (BAF) factors. Pearson’s correlation coefficients indicated a significant relationship between the concentrations of U and Th in soil and plant and the soil properties pH, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and P. The enrichment (EF < 2) and bioaccumulation (0.01 < BAF < 0.05) factors were low. In plant tissues, the concentrations of 238U followed the order: citrus > black pepper > oil palm, and the concentrations of 232Th followed the sequence: black pepper >> citrus > oil palm. The activity concentrations of 238U and 232Th in the soil cultivated with black pepper, as well as in the soil of the reference area close to the citrus plantation, were higher than the world average values of 35 and 30 Bq kg−1, respectively, established by the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects of Atomic Radiation. Perennial crops that are fertilized annually must be monitored by environmental agencies due the accumulation of elements that can promote potential risks to human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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16 pages, 1852 KiB  
Article
Environmental Impact of Potentially Toxic Elements on Tropical Soils Used for Large-Scale Crop Commodities in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil
by Anderson Martins de Souza Braz, Marcondes Lima da Costa, Sílvio Junio Ramos, Roberto Dall’Agnol and Antonio Rodrigues Fernandes
Minerals 2021, 11(9), 990; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11090990 - 10 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2429
Abstract
The Amazon soils demand high rates of fertilizer application to express high agricultural potential, making it necessary to carry out frequent monitoring of ecological functions and biogeochemical processes in this important biome. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, [...] Read more.
The Amazon soils demand high rates of fertilizer application to express high agricultural potential, making it necessary to carry out frequent monitoring of ecological functions and biogeochemical processes in this important biome. The concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn and contamination indexes were studied in Oxisol and Ultisols cultivated with citrus (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), at 26, 10 and 5 years of implantation, respectively. The potential risk of contamination was estimated by the enrichment (EF) and bioaccumulation (BAF) factors. Moderate enrichment of Ba, Pb and Zn (2 < EF < 5) and significant enrichment of As and Cu (5 < EF < 20) were observed. In addition, the following orders of bioaccumulation were found: oil palm—Cu > Zn > Hg > Ni > Ba > Co > As > Cr > Cd ≈ Pb; black pepper—Zn > Hg > Cu > Ba > Ni > Co > Pb >> As > Cr > Cd; and citrus—Hg > Ni > Ba > Zn > Co > Cu > As > Pb >> Cr > Cd. However, all elements are in concentrations below the prevention and investigation values established by Brazilian legislation, that is, the management practices in the crops studied are not contributing with damage to soil and human health risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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15 pages, 1524 KiB  
Article
Availability of Trace Elements in Soil with Simulated Cadmium, Lead and Zinc Pollution
by Elżbieta Rolka and Mirosław Wyszkowski
Minerals 2021, 11(8), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11080879 - 14 Aug 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2587
Abstract
The research was based on a pot experiment in which the impact of increasing Cd, Zn and Pb doses on the content of available trace elements in soil was compared. Seven series of trials were designed: 1 (Cd), 2 (Pb), 3 (Zn), 4 [...] Read more.
The research was based on a pot experiment in which the impact of increasing Cd, Zn and Pb doses on the content of available trace elements in soil was compared. Seven series of trials were designed: 1 (Cd), 2 (Pb), 3 (Zn), 4 (Cd + Pb), 5 (Cd + Zn), 6 (Pb + Zn), 7 (Cd + Pb + Zn). Aside from the control one (without the metals), three increasing levels of contamination were considered within each series. Mobile forms of trace elements (Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, and Cr) in soil were determined, in addition to which selected physicochemical soil properties—reaction (pH), salinity (EC), hydrolytic acidity (HAC), total exchange bases (TEB)—were identified while cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS) and availability factor (AF) were calculated. The application of Cd and Pb to soil resulted in an increase in the share of potentially available forms of these metals in their total content. The availability factor (AF) in the pots polluted with these metals was higher than in the control, in the range 17.5–20.0% for Cd, and 62.8–71.5% for Pb. In turn, the share of Zn mobile forms was comparable in most experimental objects, oscillating around 30%. Moreover, addition to soil of Cd, Pb and Zn usually caused a significant decrease in the content of available forms of Fe, Mn and Cu, and resulted in significantly higher content of available forms of Cr in the soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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Review

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23 pages, 699 KiB  
Review
Vanadium: A Review of Different Extraction Methods to Evaluate Bioavailability and Speciation
by Jie Yang, Yunlong Wang, Xiaohui Gao, Rui Zuo, Liuting Song, Chenhui Jin, Jinsheng Wang and Yanguo Teng
Minerals 2022, 12(5), 642; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050642 - 20 May 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4560
Abstract
The excessive input of heavy metals such as vanadium (V) into the environment has been one of the consequences of global industrial development. Excessive exposure to V can pose a potential threat to ecological safety and human health. Due to the heterogeneous composition [...] Read more.
The excessive input of heavy metals such as vanadium (V) into the environment has been one of the consequences of global industrial development. Excessive exposure to V can pose a potential threat to ecological safety and human health. Due to the heterogeneous composition and reactivity of the various elements in soils and sediments, quantitative analysis of the chemical speciation of V in different environmental samples is very complicated. The analysis of V chemical speciation can further reveal the bioavailability of V and accurately quantify its ecotoxicity. This is essential for assessing for exposure and for controlling ecological risks of V. Although the current investigation technologies for the chemical speciation of V have grown rapidly, the lack of comprehensive comparisons and systematic analyses of these types of technologies impedes a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem safety and human health risks. In this review, we studied the chemical and physical extraction methods for V from multiple perspectives, such as technological, principle-based, and efficiency-based, and their application to the evaluation of V bioavailability. By sorting out the advantages and disadvantages of the current technologies, the future demand for the in situ detection of trace heavy metals such as V can be met and the accuracy of heavy metal bioavailability prediction can be improved, which will be conducive to development in the fields of environmental protection policy and risk management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Concentration and Distribution of Heavy Metals in Soils)
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