Heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides uptake by vegetables from soils in Southeastern region of Argentina

MIGLIORANZA, KARINA SILVIA BEATRIZ; GERPE, MARCELA SILVIA; GONZALEZ, MARIANA; MORENO, VICTOR JORGE; AIZPÚN, JULIA ELENA

Madrid, España

Congreso; 11th Annual Meeting of SETAC Europe; 2001

SETAC Europa

Concentrations of heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils and associated vegetables were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectro­photometry (AAS) and Gas Chromatography with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD), respectively. Both contaminant groups were analyzed in different horizons (upper 0-15, middle 15-30, lower 45-55 cm) of agricultural soils. Physical and chemical characteristics (organic matter content, pH, moisture, texture, etc.) were determined. The vegetables analyzed were carrots, potatoes and lettuce). The aim of the present paper was to study heavy metal and OCP concentrations in soils to assess the contaminants mobility and their availability by edible vegetables. Depending on physical and chemical characteristics of contaminants and soils different behavior through soil profiles were found. Vegetables have accumulated both kinds of contaminants in relation to their biochemical composition. Uptake and metabolism of OCPs by vegetables would determine enhanced parent/metabolite differences with respect to the soil. The presence of heavy metals in soils and vegetables would be due to addition of impurities in agricultural fertilizers. The results suggest that these fields were exposed to recent pesticide application, in spite of their forbidden use.