Dataset Information

Major and Trace Elements in Moldavian Orchard Soil and Fruits: Assessment of Anthropogenic Contamination.

ABSTRACT: The correct assessment of the presence of potentially contaminating elements in soil, as well as in fruits cultivated and harvested from the same places has major importance for both the environment and human health. To address this task, in the case of the Republic of Moldova where the fruit production has a significant contribution to the gross domestic product, the mass fractions of 37 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Si, K, Mn, Fe, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Th, and U) were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in soil collected from four Moldavian orchards. In the case of three types of fruits, grapes, apples, and plums, all of them collected from the same places, only 22 elements (Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Th, and U) were detected. The enrichment factor, contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, as well as pollution load index were calculated to assess the soil contamination. At the same time, the metal uptake from the soil into fruits was estimated by means of transfer factors. Soil samples showed for almost all elements mass fractions closer to the upper continental crust with the exception of a slightly increased content of As, Br, and Sb, but without overpassing the officially defined alarm thresholds. In the case of fruits, the hazard quotients for all elements with the exception of Sb in fruits collected in two orchards were below unity. A subsequent discriminant analysis allowed grouping all fruits according to their type and provenance.

SUBMITTER: Zinicovscaia I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7579182 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Major and Trace Elements in Moldavian Orchard Soil and Fruits: Assessment of Anthropogenic Contamination.

Zinicovscaia Inga I Sturza Rodica R Duliu Octavian O Grozdov Dmitrii D Gundorina Svetlana S Ghendov-Mosanu Aliona A Duca Gheorghe G

International journal of environmental research and public health 20200928 19

The correct assessment of the presence of potentially contaminating elements in soil, as well as in fruits cultivated and harvested from the same places has major importance for both the environment and human health. To address this task, in the case of the Republic of Moldova where the fruit production has a significant contribution to the gross domestic product, the mass fractions of 37 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Si, K, Mn, Fe, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, ...[more]

PMID: 32998367

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Project description:The present study used soils collected from a small-scale gold mine area to determine the health risks due to trace elements to the at-risk population in the study area. The work involved 74 soil samples from four sampling categories: 29 samples were from the mining pits (MD), 18 samples from the first washing area (WA), 17 samples from the second washing area (WB), and 10 samples from the control area (C). All samples were analyzed for Cr, Cu, As, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Zn, and Hg using the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Florescence (ED-XRF) method. Trace element levels were found to vary across the four sampling categories. The concentrations of trace elements recorded from different sampling categories varied in an increasing order of MD > WA > WB > C. Mercury was detected in the highest levels (max. 3.72 ± 0.15) at WB while it was not detected in the samples from C. Samples from MD indicated that Cu (max. 737.66 ± 1.3 mg/kg) was found in the highest levels whereas Hg (mean = 0.007 mg/kg) was the lowest. At WA, Cu (max. = 178.97 ± 2.46 mg/kg) registered the highest average concentration while Hg (mean = 0.05 mg/kg) had the lowest concentration. For WB, Cu (max. = 230.66 ± 3.99 mg/kg) was found in the highest concentration. The hazard index value for all exposure routes was found to be 1.77, making noncarcinogenic effects significant to the adult population. For children, the hazard index value was 9.11, showing a severe noncarcinogenic effect on children living in the study area. For the noncancer effects through the inhalation pathway, the risk posed by Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb was negligible for both adults and children, while Co posed the highest noncancer risk for children. Cobalt also indicated the highest noncancer risk for children through the dermal pathway, while As indicated the highest noncancer risk to children through ingestion. For the cancer risk, the adults were more at risk compared to children, except for As and Co through the dermal pathway posing the highest threat. Trace element concentrations, hazard quotient, and hazard index values indicated that the area was polluted and that noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic effects on residents and miners were significant. Therefore, there is a need to put in place mining regulations aimed at protecting the at-risk human population in the study area.

Dataset Information

Major and Trace Elements in Moldavian Orchard Soil and Fruits: Assessment of Anthropogenic Contamination.

Publications

Major and Trace Elements in Moldavian Orchard Soil and Fruits: Assessment of Anthropogenic Contamination.

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