Topsoil pollution in highway medians in the State of São Paulo (Brazil): determination of potentially toxic elements using synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2019-07, Vol.26 (20), p.20839-20852
• Main Authors: Canteras, Felippe Benavente, Oliveira, Bruna Fernanda Faria, Moreira, Silvana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Automobile industry; Automobiles; Automotive engineering; Automotive parts; Calcium; Catalytic converters; Chromium; Composition; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Emission control equipment; Engine components; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Exhaust systems; Heavy metals; Heavy vehicles; Highways; Industrial areas; Lubricating oils; Lubrication; Manganese; Motor vehicles; Nickel; Principal components analysis; Public transportation; Research Article; Roads & highways; Silicon; Soil surfaces; Soils; Statistical analysis; Statistical tests; Synchrotron radiation; Topsoil; Variance analysis; Vehicle emissions; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; X-ray fluorescence; X-rays
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05425-2

The presence of metals in vehicle emissions is due to several factors, such as the composition of fuels and lubricating oils, the wear of engine components, and their use in catalytic converters. It is known that the soil near highways is greatly affected by heavy vehicle traffic, since the use of highways is of fundamental importance for the flow of goods and public transport, especially in Brazil, street transport being the main form of transport in the country. Considering the scenario described, the main objective of this study was to monitor the concentration of potentially toxic elements in surface soils located on the medians of the main access highways in the city of Campinas (SP—Brazil) and classify the soils through geoaccumulation index. Using SR-TXRF it was possible to detect and determine the concentrations of 5 elements of toxic-environmental interest (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) and 11 natural soil composition elements (Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Rb, and Sr). To evaluate the influence of highway distance on elementary concentrations, ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests were applied. Nickel, Cu, and Zn showed a decrease in their concentrations moving away from the highway, indicating their relation with vehicular emissions. Applying principal components analysis (PCA), it was possible to identify four groups of the quantified elements: those mainly related to the soil itself, those produced by traffic of automotive vehicles, and those emitted by industrial activities.