Metal pollution of soils and vegetation in an area with petrochemical industry
Introduction
It is well known that a large number of chemicals involved in petroleum refining and petrochemical manufacturing are toxic in various ways (Mehlman, 1992). Among those, many polyaromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, aromatic amines and nitrosamines, and organometallic compounds are mutagens, carcinogens, or both (Kaldor et al., 1984). Some of these toxic substances are released into the atmosphere. Consequently, communities surrounding petroleum and petrochemical plants can be at increased risk of cancer and other adverse health effects (Kaldor et al., 1984, Pan et al., 1994, Bhopal et al., 1998, Lin et al., 2001). Moreover, petrochemical waste contains also inorganic contaminants that can pollute soils and pose ecological and human risks. Therefore, the disposal of petrochemical waste can result in the contamination of soils with Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn among other potentially toxic elements (Schroder et al., 2000).
Although current environmental levels of metals rarely produce morbidity or death in the general population, the continued exposure to low levels of toxic elements such as As, Cd, Hg, or Pb has been associated with a wide range of adverse effects (Christensen, 1995, Chang, 1996). In addition, some elements are also carcinogenic (Cd, Cr(VI), Ni) and teratogenic (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in mammals (Domingo, 1994, Chang, 1996). Moreover, although metals such as Co, Cu, Mn, Zn, etc. are essential for humans, they can be also dangerous at high exposure levels (Domingo, 1994, Chang, 1996).
In addition to natural processes, soils can be contaminated by metals released into the environment from a number of anthropogenic sources. These elements can bioaccumulate in plants and animals eventually making their way to humans through the food chain (Frink, 1996, Abrahams, 2002). Ingestion, inhalation and skin contact are the main routes of human exposure to soil metals. Taking into account that soils and vegetation is the major sink for airborne metals, the measurement of metal levels in these media is useful to establish trends in abundance and their consequences as a result of natural and anthropogenic changes.
Since approximately 30 years ago, one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Southern Europe is located in Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain). A big petroleum refinery, together with a number of important chemical and petrochemical industries are placed in the zone. In recent years, public concern over possible adverse health effects for the population living near this industrial complex has increased. Because of it, we recently initiated a wide survey focused on determining the current levels of various inorganic and organic pollutants in the area, and on establishing the health risks for the population living in the neighborhood of the petrochemical complex. The results concerning metals are presented in this paper. These data are also compared with metal levels from other residential and unpolluted soils of Tarragona County.
Section snippets
Sampling
In winter 2002, 24 soil and 12 wild chard (Beta vulgaris) samples were collected in Tarragona County. This is an area which has approximately 300 000 inhabitants. A considerable number of chemical and petrochemical industries are located at the South and North–East of the study area (130 km2). Moreover, the presence of a highway and several roads with an important traffic density influences the environment of the zone (Fig. 1). Soil and vegetation (chard) samples were selected for representing
Results and discussion
Table 1 summarizes metal concentrations in soil and chard samples of the 3 zones under study. In 9 soil samples Hg levels were under the limit of detection, while in chards As and Hg were not detected in 9 and 2 samples, respectively. Significant differences between collection areas were not found for As, Cd, Hg and Mn concentrations in soils. However, Cr and V levels were significantly higher in the industrial than in the unpolluted sampling sites. For these elements, no differences between
Acknowledgements
This study was supported financially by the Fondo of Investigación Sanitaria (FIS), Spain, through grant No. 01/0158.
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