Are crop and range lands being contaminated with cadmium and lead in sediments transported by wind from an adjacent contaminated shallow lake?

Abstract

Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in range and crop lands can occur from polluted sediments carried by the wind. Soils samples were obtained in three different areas on the leeward (east) side of a shallow lake called the Laguna de Bustillos: (1) sediment in the shallow lake (S), (2) soil in the range area adjacent to the shallow lake (RA), and (3) soil in agriculture land (AL) adjacent to the range area. In each area, three composite soil samples were randomly collected at depths of 0-15, 15-30 and 30-50 cm. Therefore, 45 soil samples were analyzed as a 3 (area) x 3 (depth) factorial arrangement. The samples were air dried, passed through a 2.0 mm sieve, ground and passed through a 0.355 mm sieve, and digested with concentrated nitric acid. The metals Cd and Pb were determined using ICP optical emission spectrometry. In addition pH and CE were evaluated. Cadmium concentration was statistically different among areas and showed a strong interaction between depth x area. Maximum Cd concentration was found in S with 0.94 mg kg -1 in the surface horizon (0-15 cm). Lead concentration was different among areas and the interaction was not as strong as the one noted for Cd. Highest Pb concentrations were observed in the surface horizons (0-15 cm) of both S and RA with 74.19 mg kg -1 and 55.09 mg kg -1 . Nevertheless, for the AL system the maximum Pb concentration was found in the subsurface horizon (30-50 cm) with 40.23 mg kg -1 . It is concluded that Cd and Pb are contaminating the RA and AL through wind movement with Pb contamination being the worst.

Heavy metals in water of the San Pedro River in Chihuahua, Mexico and its potential health risk

“…The presence of metals in water results from two independent factors. The first involving the weathering of soils and rocks [ 1 – 3 ] with its products being transported by air [ 4 , 5 ] and water [ 6 ], and the second involving a variety of anthropogenic activities that have created a societal health risk in rivers that receive a substantial amount of waste, as it is the case of the Rio San Pedro. In diverse aquatic environments within the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, the evidence of contamination points to anthropogenic activities [ 7 – 9 ].…”

Characterization of lead and arsenic levels in sediment of the lower basin of the San Pedro River, Mexico and its importance regarding human health

“…It is interesting to note that Gutierrez et al [11] found values of Pb in the water in the same locations points of 0.019 mg L (LJ) that are comparatively less than the values noted in this research, meaning that this element precipitates and accumulates over years. The Pb concentration reported in this study is generally lower than that reported by Rubio et al [5] in some Mexican soils; likewise, in soils of India with 10.4 mg kg -1 [20] and Japan with 21 mg kg -1 [21]. …”

“…It could come from a natural weathering process occurring in soils and rocks [2,3] with the results then transmitted in the air [4,5] and water [6]. Another factor could be anthropogenic activities [7][8][9][10].…”

Metales pesados en sedimentos de la Laguna de Bustillos, Chihuahua, México y comparación de agua regia y peróxido de hidrógeno como métodos de digestión

“…La Laguna de Bustillos, en el norte de México, ha sido considerada como un ícono ecológico que presenta una problemática de modificación por efectos de la deforestación de su cuenca, la desecación por una sobreexplotación de los mantos freáticos y contaminación por acarreo de agroquímicos, desechos sólidos y aguas residuales urbanas (Ochoa-Rivero et al, 2017;Rubio Arias et al, 2006). Estudios previos han demostrado que el agua está contaminada (Rubio Arias, Saucedo, Lara, Wood, & Jiménez, 2005a) y sus peces presentan altos niveles de Zn y Sr en agallas y músculo (Rodríguez, 2013).…”