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Trace metals and metalloids in peri-urban soil and foliage across geologic materials, ecosystems, and development intensities in Southern California

  • Soils, Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Southern California is a mega-metropolitan area with abundant air pollution, complex geology, and diverse Mediterranean ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate trace metal and metalloids (TMMs) (As, Cd, Co, Cr Cu, Ni, Pb, U, V, Zn) in soils and foliage of peri-urban areas and explore potential effects from human-development, ecosystems, and geologic material.

Materials and methods

Foliage of dominant native vegetation, soil samples (0–20 cm), saprolite, and unweathered rock samples were collected across fifty-four sampling sites in foothills spanning coastal Los Angeles and Orange counties to inland San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Results and discussion

Soil As, Cd, Cu, and Pb concentrations were regionally elevated, but not as elevated as point-source polluted sites elsewhere. Soil Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were above EPA Ecological Soil Screening Levels. Further, enrichment factors (EF) normalized to Ti concentrations in bedrock suggest minor to moderate As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and V accumulation in soils. Our foliar TMM concentrations and bioaccumulation factors (BAF) (foliar and soil ratio) indicate no bioaccumulation and limited effects across geologic, development intensity, and ecosystems groups.

Conclusions

Sedimentary-derived soils affected soil TMMs, but likely not through inheritance of TMMs but by promoting clay and organic matter availability. Proximity to higher development intensity resulted in As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb accumulation in peri-urban soils. Foliar TMM concentrations and BAFs suggest geologic materials, human development, and ecosystem properties were not important factors and TMMs were likely controlled by plant uptake or ecophysiology.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Justin Mistikawy, Madelyn Metzler, Alma and Dashiell Meeks, Kiersten Lima, and others for their aid in field and/or sample processing.

Funding

This project was completed as part of an Undergraduate Honors Thesis by Trevor Mackowiak and was funded by a grant from the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to Dr. Justin Richardson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 611 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Trevor J. Mackowiak, Ivan C. Mischenko, Mark J. Butler & Justin B. Richardson

  2. School of Earth and Sustainability, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, 01003, USA

    Justin B. Richardson

Authors
  1. Trevor J. Mackowiak
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  2. Ivan C. Mischenko
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  3. Mark J. Butler
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  4. Justin B. Richardson
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Contributions

Trevor Mackowiak designed the experiment, conducted sampling, generated and interpreted data, generated maps with ArcGIS, and wrote the rough draft.

Mark Butler and Ivan Mischenko aided with experimental design, conducted sampling, generated, and interpreted data.

Justin Richardson came up with the study idea, helped with study design, conducted sampling, generated and interpreted data, generated maps with ArcGIS, and edited the final draft.

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Correspondence to Justin B. Richardson.

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Mackowiak, T.J., Mischenko, I.C., Butler, M.J. et al. Trace metals and metalloids in peri-urban soil and foliage across geologic materials, ecosystems, and development intensities in Southern California. J Soils Sediments 21, 1713–1729 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02893-3

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