Determination and Evaluation of Cadmium, Copper, Nickel, and Zinc in Agricultural Soils of Western Macedonia, Greece |
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Authors: | A Papadopoulos C Prochaska F Papadopoulos N Gantidis E Metaxa |
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Institution: | (1) Soil Science Institute of Thessaloniki, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Greece, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece |
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Abstract: | The objective of this study was to determine the levels of major phytotoxic metals―including cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel
(Ni), and zinc (Zn)―in agricultural soils of Western Macedonia, Greece. We also wanted to determine the possible relationships
among elements and between soil properties and elemental concentrations. Surface soil samples, n = 570, were collected and
analyzed. The results of the elemental analysis showed that the mean metal concentrations were consistent with reported typical
concentrations found in Greek agricultural soils in the cases of Zn and Cu. Cd exhibited lower and Ni higher mean concentrations
than the typical levels reported in the literature. Metal concentrations in the majority of the examined samples (>69%) were
found to be higher than the respective critical plant-deficiency levels. However, only 0.4% and 0.2% of the analyzed soil
samples, respectively, exhibited Cd and Ni concentrations higher than the levels that cause plant toxicity, as referenced
by other investigators. These results suggest that the soils studied can be considered as unpolluted with respect to the examined
food-chain metal contaminants. However, the levels of the metal concentrations in some of the soil samples, and the low correlation
of the metals with soil properties, suggest an anthropogenic rather that lithogenic origin. |
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Keywords: | Greece Heavy metals Soil properties Western Macedonia |
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