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Background concentrations and reference values for heavy metals in soils of Cuba

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Abstract

The potential threat of heavy metals to human health has led to many studies on permissible levels of these elements in soils. The objective of this study was to establish quality reference values (QRVs) for Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, As, Hg, V, Ba, Sb, Ag, Co, and Mo in soils of Cuba. Geochemical associations between trace elements and Fe were also studied, aiming to provide an index for establishing background concentrations of metals in soils. Surface samples of 33 soil profiles from areas of native forest or minimal anthropic influence were collected. Samples were digested (USEPA method 3051A), and the metals were determined by ICP-OES. The natural concentrations of metals in soils of Cuba followed the order Fe > Mn > Ni > Cr > Ba > V > Zn > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Sb > Ag > Cd > Mo > Hg. The QRVs found for Cuban soils were as follows (mg kg−1): Ag (1), Ba (111), Cd (0.6), Co (25), Cr (153), Cu (83), Fe (54,055), Mn (1947), Ni (170), Pb (50), Sb (6), V (137), Zn (86), Mo (0.1), As (19), and Hg (0.1). The average natural levels of heavy metals are above the global average, especially for Ni and Cr. The chemical fractionation of soil samples presenting anomalous concentrations of metals showed that Cu, Ni, Cr, Sb, and As have low bioavailability. This suggests that the risk of contamination of agricultural products via plant uptake is low. However, the final decision on the establishment of soil QRVs in Cuba depends on political, economic, and social issues and in-depth risk analyses considering all routes of exposure to these elements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Suelos, MINAG, Autopista Costa-Costa km 8½, Capdevila, Boyeros, La Habana, Cuba

    Mirelys Rodríguez Alfaro & Olegario Muñiz Ugarte

  2. CEADEN, Calle 30 No. 502, Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba

    Alfredo Montero

  3. Departamento de Agronomia, UFRPE, Rua Dom Manuel de Medeiros, S/N, Dois Irmãos, Recife, 52171-900, PE, Brazil

    Clístenes Williams Araújo do Nascimento, Caroline Miranda Biondi & Ygor Jacques Agra Bezerra da Silva

  4. Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, Rua Embrapa, S/N, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil

    Adriana Maria de Aguiar Accioly

Authors
  1. Mirelys Rodríguez Alfaro
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  2. Alfredo Montero
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  3. Olegario Muñiz Ugarte
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  4. Clístenes Williams Araújo do Nascimento
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  5. Adriana Maria de Aguiar Accioly
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  6. Caroline Miranda Biondi
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Correspondence to Clístenes Williams Araújo do Nascimento.

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Alfaro, M.R., Montero, A., Ugarte, O.M. et al. Background concentrations and reference values for heavy metals in soils of Cuba. Environ Monit Assess 187, 4198 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4198-3

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