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Determination of metals in Brazilian soils by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

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Abstract

The concentration of metals in Brazilian soil under no-tillage (NT) and an area under native vegetation (NV) was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The applied method was based on microwave-assisted acid digestion using HNO3, HCl, H2O2, and HF. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing two certified reference materials (BCR-142 and RS-3). The relative standard deviation for all target elements was below 8 % indicating an adequate precision and the limit of detection ranged from 0.03 μg g−1 (Cd) to 24.0 μg g−1 (Fe). The concentrations of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn in the different layers (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) were determined in two types of soils, located in Paraná State in Brazil. The soil layers analysis revealed a different behavior of metals concentrations in soil samples under NT and NV. The obtained results showed a clear impact of anthropogenic action with respect to specific metals due to many years of uncontrolled application rates of limestone and phosphate fertilizers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Santa Catarina, Trindade, 88040-970, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

    Rui M. de Carvalho Jr., Jessee A. S. Silva & Vera L. A. Frescura

  2. Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, State University of Ponta Grossa, 84030-900, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil

    Jéssica A. dos Santos & Adriel Ferreira da Fonseca

  3. Federal University of Technology – Paraná, 84016-210, Ponta Grossa, Brazil

    Thiago G. do Prado & Eduardo S. Chaves

Authors
  1. Rui M. de Carvalho Jr.
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  2. Jéssica A. dos Santos
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  3. Jessee A. S. Silva
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  4. Thiago G. do Prado
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  5. Adriel Ferreira da Fonseca
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  6. Eduardo S. Chaves
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  7. Vera L. A. Frescura
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Correspondence to Eduardo S. Chaves.

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de Carvalho, R.M., dos Santos, J.A., Silva, J.A.S. et al. Determination of metals in Brazilian soils by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Environ Monit Assess 187, 535 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4769-y

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