Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #369510
Research Project: Enhancing Production and Ecosystem Services of Horticultural and Agricultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Influence of roadways on heavy metal content in soils and yerba mate tissue in southern Brazil

Author
item FRIGO, CLEITON - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item MAGRI, EDERLAN - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item BARBOSA, JULIERME - Uninga University Center
item SARTERETTO, LAUDETE - Concordia College
item ARAUJO, ELOA - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item MELO, VANDER - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item MOTTA, ANTONIO - Universidade Federal Do Parana

Submitted to: Management of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2020
Publication Date: 10/12/2020
Citation: Frigo, C., Magri, E., Barbosa, J., Sarteretto, L., Araujo, E., de Melo, V., Prior, S.A., Motta, A. 2020. Influence of roadways on heavy metal content in soils and yerba mate tissue in southern Brazil. Management of Environmental Quality. 31(6):1477-1495. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-10-2019-0219.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-10-2019-0219

Interpretive Summary: Road traffic can be an important contamination source. In this context, this work evaluated the elemental composition of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) cultivations and host soils adjacent to highways. Leaves and/or branches of yerba mate are used in the preparation of tea drinks and pharmaceutical formulations. Plant tissue was analyzed with and without washing to evaluate particulate deposition. In general, the elemental composition of yerba mate branches and leaves were not altered by the rinsing process. Branches tended to concentrate more As and Cd, new leaves accumulated Cu, Ni, P and K, and old leaves had more Pb, Zn, Fe, Al, Mn, Ca, and Mg. Slight increases in some elements were observed, but pollution indices and enrichment factors did not indicate any heavy metal pollution. In summary, the present study showed that road proximity did not alter natural heavy metal levels in soil and yerba mate.

Technical Abstract: Vehicular road traffic may represent an important soil and plant contamination source. In this context, the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As, Sb, Ni, Cu, Fe, Al, Mn and Zn) and macronutrients (Ca, Mg, K, and P) were evaluated in yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) cultivations and host soils adjacent to highways. The investigated yerba mate cultivations were located in the municipalities of Erechin and Ilópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Plant tissue samples (young and old leaves, and branches) and soil (0-10 cm) were collected at five distances from the highway (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, and 40-50 m). Plant tissue was analyzed with and without washing to evaluate contributions from particulate deposition. Slight increases in soil pseudo-total concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, and Mg were observed only at Erechim. However, geoaccumulation indices and enrichment factors did not indicate any heavy metal pollution. These results indicate the existence of natural variation in soil. Cadmium was more concentrated in branches than in leaves, while the opposite was observed for Pb. Effects of tissue age and washing on tissue composition will be discussed. High levels of Mn and Al were found in foliar tissue. In summary, highway proximity did not lead to heavy metal contamination of yerba mate under evaluated conditions.