Assessment of Metal Pollution in Soils from urban area: a preliminary study

Concentration of heavy metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb) were determined by X-ray fluorescence in the top-soils (0-10 cm) from backyard of housing near to factory. In this housing lives a person that suffers of health problems which can be related with intoxication by heavy metals. The mean Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb contents in the topsoil samples (4.3 ± 2.6; 32.2 ± 5.2; 86.3 ± 50; 451 ± 102; 162 ± 60 mg/kg^-1, respectively) were compared with mean concentrations for other cities around the world. The comparison with Dutch soil quality guidelines showed a median pollution with Co, Zn and Pb; however, other index: Integrated pollution index, Enrichment index and Enrichment factor showed soils are severely enriched with Pb and two stations are highly polluted and the enrichment index values shows that metal concentrations on the studied locations are above the permissible levels for urban agriculture. It is corroborated that the intoxication for heavy metals is one of the possible causes of the illness. It is recommended to make a deeper study of the soils around the factory. (Author)