Abstract

Heavy metal quantification in community soils impacted by mining activities in the northern mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico

Author(s): Adela Hernandez-Hernandez, Jaime Lopez-Luna, Elizabeth Gonzalez-Terreros

This work was conducted in two seasonal times to quantifyAs, Cd, Cr and Pb, in community soils impaired by mining tailings. Soils were physicochemically characterized, metals extracted by acid digestion and then determined by ICP-OES. Significant differences were observed between dry and rain season, with the highest metal level content in the dry season. The concentrations of As and Pb recorded in most soils were of serious concern; even though in the control soil used as a no-polluted reference soil. Important synergistic relationships were observed among metals and physico-chemical parameters.