IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 7112: Major and Trace Elements in Moldavian Orchard Soil and Fruits: Assessment of Anthropogenic Contamination

IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 7112: Major and Trace Elements in Moldavian Orchard Soil and Fruits: Assessment of Anthropogenic Contamination International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17197112 Authors: Inga Zinicovscaia Rodica Sturza Octavian Duliu Dmitrii Grozdov Svetlana Gundorina Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu Gheorghe Duca 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 ...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research