Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Concentrations of Metals in Soils in the Neighborhood of a Hazardous Waste Incinerator: Assessment of the Temporal Trends

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The concentrations of arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), thallium (Tl), and vanadium (V) were determined in 30 soil samples collected in April 2011 near a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI; Constantí, Catalonia, Spain), which is under regular operations since 1999. The results were compared with those of recent surveys performed in the same zone, as well as with data from a background study (1996–1998). We also assessed the human health risks derived from metal exposure in the area under potential influence of the emissions of the HWI. Manganese was the most abundant element in soils, with a mean value of 316.4 μg/g, followed by Pb and Cu (mean values, 42.5 and 38.2 μg/g, respectively). In contrast, Sb, Cd, and Tl presented the lowest values (0.12, 0.27, and 0.29 μg/g, respectively), while Hg was below its limit of detection. In the period 1998–2011, only As, Cr, Sn, Tl, and V levels presented significant increases in soils. The estimated carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks derived from exposure to these metals from soils should not mean any special concern for the population living in the surroundings of the HWI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. EU (2010) The EU’s approach to waste management. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/index.htm. Accessed 5 March 2012

  2. Domingo JL (2002) Human health risks of dioxins for populations living near modern municipal solid waste incinerators. Rev Environ Health 17:135–147

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Viel JF, Floret N, Deconinck E, Focant JF, De Pauw E, Cahn JY (2011) Increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and serum organochlorine concentrations among neighbors of a municipal solid waste incinerator. Environ Int 37:449–453

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Vilavert L, Nadal M, Figueras MJ, Kumar V, Domingo JL (2011) Levels of chemical and microbiological pollutants in the vicinity of a waste incineration plant and human health risks: temporal trends. Chemosphere 84:1476–1483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Morselli L, Passarini F, Piccari L, Vassura I, Bernardi E (2011) Risk assessment applied to air emissions from a medium-sized Italian MSW incinerator. Waste Manag Res 29(Suppl):48–56

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Giné Bordonaba J, Vilavert L, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2011) Monitoring environmental levels of trace elements near a hazardous waste incinerator: human health risks after a decade of regular operations. Biol Trace Elem Res 144:1419–1429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Vilavert L, Nadal M, Mari M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2010) Monitoring temporal trends in environmental levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans: results from a 10-year surveillance program of a hazardous waste incinerator. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 59:521–531

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mari M, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2010) Application of self-organizing maps for PCDD/F pattern recognition of environmental and biological samples to evaluate the impact of a hazardous waste incinerator. Environ Sci Technol 44:3162–3168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martí-Cid R, Perelló G, Domingo JL (2009) Dietary exposure to metals by individuals living near a hazardous waste incinerator in Catalonia, Spain: temporal trend. Biol Trace Elem Res 131:245–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Schuhmacher M, Kiviranta H, Ruokojärvi P, Nadal M, Domingo JL (2009) Concentrations of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs in breast milk of women from Catalonia, Spain: a follow-up study. Environ Int 35:607–613

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nadal M, Domingo JL, García F, Schuhmacher M (2009) Levels of PCDD/F in adipose tissue on non-occupationally exposed subjects living near a hazardous waste incinerator in Catalonia, Spain. Chemosphere 74:1471–1476

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ferré-Huguet N, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2009) Monitoring metals in blood and hair of the population living near a hazardous waste incinerator: temporal trend. Biol Trace Elem Res 128:191–199

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nadal M, Perelló G, Schuhmacher M, Cid J, Domingo JL (2008) Concentrations of PCDD/PCDFs in plasma of subjects living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste incinerator: follow-up and modeling validation. Chemosphere 73:901–906

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Martí-Cid R, Bocio A, Domingo JL (2008) Dietary exposure to PCDD/PCDFs by individuals living near a hazardous waste incinerator in Catalonia, Spain: temporal trend. Chemosphere 70:1588–1595

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ferré-Huguet N, Nadal M, Mari M, Schuhmacher M, Borrajo MA, Domingo JL (2007) Monitoring metals near a hazardous waste incinerator. Temporal trend in soils and herbage. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 79:130–134

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schuhmacher M, Granero S, Llobet JM, de Kok HA, Domingo JL (1997) Assessment of baseline levels of PCDD/F in soils in the neighbourhood of a new hazardous waste incinerator in Catalonia, Spain. Chemosphere 35:1947–1958

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Meneses M, Llobet JM, Granero S, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (1999) Monitoring metals in the vicinity of a municipal waste incinerator: temporal variation in soils and vegetation. Sci Total Environ 226:157–164

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. US EPA (2009) Preliminary remediation goals. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/region9/superfund/prg/. Accessed 5 March 2012

  19. Llobet JM, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2000) Observations on metal trends in soil and vegetation samples collected in the vicinty of a hazardous waste incinerator under construction (1996–1998). Toxicol Environ Chem 77:119–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Nadal M, Bocio A, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2005) Trends in the levels of metals in soils and vegetation samples collected near a hazardous waste incinerator. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 49:290–298

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. ARC (2009) Nivells generics de referència dels elements traça en sols a Catalunya per la protecció de la salut humana. Agencia de Residus de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain [in Catalan]

  22. Mari M, Ferré-Huguet N, Nadal M, Schuhmacher M, Domingo JL (2007) Temporal trends in metal concentrations in soils and herbage collected near a municipal waste incinerator: human health risks. Hum Ecol Risk Assess 13:457–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by Agència Catalana de Residus (ARC), Generalitat de Catalunya, Catalonia, Spain. The authors acknowledge Ms. Beatriz Millán for her valuable help during sampling and analytical pretreatment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain

    Lolita Vilavert, Martí Nadal & José L. Domingo

  2. Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d’Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

    Marta Schuhmacher

Authors
  1. Lolita Vilavert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martí Nadal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marta Schuhmacher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. José L. Domingo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José L. Domingo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vilavert, L., Nadal, M., Schuhmacher, M. et al. Concentrations of Metals in Soils in the Neighborhood of a Hazardous Waste Incinerator: Assessment of the Temporal Trends. Biol Trace Elem Res 149, 435–442 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9441-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9441-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation