Teores naturais de metais pesados nos solos de referência do Estado de Pernambuco

Abstract

Knowing the natural background concentration of heavy metals in soil is a fundamental step to estimate its contamination level. Such reference value supports the establishment of soil screening levels for contaminants in soil that may be used to identify areas needing further investigation. Thus to determine the natural background of metals in soils is essential not only to trigger the need for response actions but also to define soil guidelines adequate for monitoring and remediation. These guidelines must take in account the local pedological conditions. In this scenario, the work was carried out to determine the natural concentrations of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and e cobalt (Co) in order to define soil screening levels of metals for benchmark soils of Pernambuco State. The results showed that the metals concentrations followed the order: Fe, Mn, Ba, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Co, Cd, As, and Hg. In general, such sequence was independent of the horizon analyzed. Natural concentration could not be directly related to the parent material since pedogenetical processes seem to influence the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Ba, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and Hg. Such an association was found only to Cu, Ni, and Co. Most soils presented Cu, Co, Ni, and Zn at lower concentration than that in soils mainly derived from mafic rocks from other Brazilian regions. This corroborates that these metals are more directly related to iron magnesium minerals. According to Brazilian soil guidelines (CONAMA, 2009), Ba, Cr and Hg concentrations were higher than the Levels of Prevention and Intervention which justifies the need for determining local backgrounds concentrations aiming at building national guidelines. The Cd concentration in some surface horizons from Zona da Mata region suggests anthropogenic inputs. The natural concentrations determined for benchmark soils of Pernambuco can be used to define the screening level (natural concentration) for the State’s soils as settled by the national legislation.