Assessment of the Content of Arsenic and Mercury in the Agroecosystems of the Central Chernozem Region of Russia

Abstract

The results of state agroecological monitoring of soils conducted in the southwestern part of the forest–steppe zone of the Central Chernozem Region are analyzed. It was found that in the Aar layer of the arable chernozem in a typical forest–steppe zone of the Central Chernozem Region, the mean total contents of As and Hg are 4.18 and 0.022 mg/kg, respectively. In the parent rock (C), the content of As is 1.38 times higher, and Hg is 2.22 times lower than in the Aar layer. Organic fertilizers are the main source of As and Hg in the agroecosystems of the Belgorod region, but this does not pose a danger to soil pollution or crop production. The highest mean As content (0.020 mg/kg) was found in winter wheat, peas, and sunflower seeds, and the lowest (0.016 mg/kg) was in corn and soybeans. The highest Hg content was found in barley (0.006 mg/kg) and winter wheat (0.007 mg/kg), while the lowest content of this element (0.002 mg/kg) was found in sainfoin hay. No evidence of exceeding the maximum allowable concentration of As and Hg in food grains and the maximum allowable level in feed products was revealed in this study.