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Baseline concentrations of trace elements in residential soils from Southeastern Missouri

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Abstract

Anthropogenic sources of pollution can significantly contribute to elevated concentrations of toxic elements in soils. A preliminary survey of trace elements content and their availability in residential soils from New Madrid County, Missouri was undertaken. Mean elemental concentrations (mg kg−1, dry wt) of sixty two soil samples were: As 6.6, Be 0.8, Cd 1.6, Co 9.7, Cr 24.5, Cu 18.1, Fe 9951, Mn 298, Ni 15.6, Pb 48.8, V 42.1, Zn 95.5 and Hg 0.05. The US EPA preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) was only exceeded by As (7 % of samples) and V (8% of samples). The Missouri average background values were exceeded by Pb (69%), Zn (31%), Cu (27%), As (23%), Be (19%), Co (18%), Ni (16%), V (8%) and Mn (2%). Crustal enrichments (EFc) for As (97), Cr (6), Cu (10), Pb (121), V (7), and Hg (17) were highest for North Lilbourn soils. Fractionation experiment revealed that Fe (54–79%) was in the residual phase while Zn (70–90%), Mn (88–92%), As (59–81%) and Pb (63–79%) were potentially available in soils. Factor loadings of the element concentrations on principal components 1, 2 and 3 accounted for over 81% variance of the data set. The factor loadings suggested that apart from natural contributions of trace elements to the soils, human activities possibly accounted for other inputs in soils.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Co-operative Research Programs, Lincoln University, 307 Foster Hall, 904 Chestnut Street, Jefferson City, MO, 65101, USA

    Abua Ikem, Marjorie Campbell, Isabelle Nyirakabibi & Jimmie Garth

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  1. Abua Ikem
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  2. Marjorie Campbell
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  3. Isabelle Nyirakabibi
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  4. Jimmie Garth
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Correspondence to Abua Ikem.

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Ikem, A., Campbell, M., Nyirakabibi, I. et al. Baseline concentrations of trace elements in residential soils from Southeastern Missouri. Environ Monit Assess 140, 69–81 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9848-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9848-2

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