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Geochemical background concentrations of potentially toxic elements in soils of the Carajás Mineral Province, southeast of the Amazonian Craton

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish background concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils from the Carajás Mineral Province (CMP), southeastern Amazonian Craton. The PTEs Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn were digested in microwaves and quantified by optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The variability of physical-chemical and mineralogical attributes contributed to variation in PTE concentrations. High background concentrations of Al, Fe, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Ti, and V and, in particular, the PTE concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ba, and Co were greater than the prevention values defined by the Brazilian National Council of Environment. Soil quality reference values (QRVs) were greater than those determined for most Brazilian states and soils in the state of Pará. The high background concentrations and QRVs of PTEs show that the region is strongly influenced by the source material, rich in ferruginous deposits and other associated minerals. The results are an important tool for establishing soil quality standards and public policies for environmental protection in regions naturally PTE enriched.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Brazil’s National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) for the financial support (305819/2018-6 and 425312/2018-6), and Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) due to the financial support in the development of this work and for the scholarships provided, as well as the Evandro Chagas Institute for the support on chemical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal Rural University of Amazon, (ICA-UFRA), C. P. 917, Belém, PA, 66077-530, Brazil

    Mauricio Wilians de Lima, Sheryle Santos Hamid & Antonio Rodrigues Fernandes

  2. Institute of Studies on Xingu, Federal University of Southern and Southeastern Pará, R. Constantino Viana Street, S/N, São Felix do Xingu, PA, 68380-000, Brazil

    Edna Santos de Souza

  3. Regional Agrarian Development Studies Institute, Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará, Street Q Folha 31, S/N, qd. 7, Marabá, PA, 68501-970, Brazil

    Renato Alves Teixeira

  4. Institute of Animal Health and Production, Federal Rural University of Amazon, Belém, PA, 66077-530, Brazil

    Dulcidéia da Conceição Palheta

  5. Institute Evandro Chagas, Highway BR-316 km 7 s/n - Levilândia, Ananindeua, Pará, 67030-000, Brazil

    Kelson do Carmo Freitas Faial

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  1. Mauricio Wilians de Lima
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de Lima, M.W., Hamid, S.S., de Souza, E.S. et al. Geochemical background concentrations of potentially toxic elements in soils of the Carajás Mineral Province, southeast of the Amazonian Craton. Environ Monit Assess 192, 649 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08611-9

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