Possible contamination of agricultural soils by the presence of heavy metals
SANTO DOMINGO- The concentration of heavy metals in agricultural soils in a rice-growing area in the Duarte province exceeds the maximum values allowed, which shows the possible contamination of these, as stated by Lizaira Bello, teacher and researcher in the Area of Basic and Environmental Sciences of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), who coordinates an investigation on the presence of heavy metals in agricultural soils in different areas of the country.
After analyzing 30 soil samples using the Dispersive Energy X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique, the concentration of heavy metals iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn ), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in agricultural soils located in the Municipality of Arenoso in the Duarte Province.
The concentration of chromium, copper and zinc exceed the maximum values allowed according to the international reference standards established by the Organization of the United Nations for Food and Agriculture (FAO) and kabata earrings.
"The presence of heavy metals in agricultural soils can alter the sustainability of the food chain, causing risks to human and animal health," said the speaker during the presentation of the progress of her research, held at the Seminar on Urban Ecosystem Services and Climate Resilience in Tropical Cities and Communities, an activity that was coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MIMARENA) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT).
The Seminar was held within the framework of the XVIII International Congress of Scientific Research (XVIII CIC) and International Environment Day, where the results of research currently being carried out in the country were shown.
Research on heavy metals in agricultural soils is financed by FONDOCYT and academics participate in it Nativity Miledy Alberto y Ramon Delanoy for the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD); and Oscar Diaz Rizo, professor of the University of Havana, Cuban.
The general objective of the project is to evaluate the contamination by heavy metals in soils of three rice-producing agricultural areas of the middle and lower basin of the Yuna River, Dominican Republic, using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDX) and different indices of pollution.
In addition, it seeks to estimate the spatial distribution of the concentration of heavy metals in the soils of the study areas and to establish the correlation between the pH, organic matter content and the levels of heavy metals. The study areas are San Isidro Labrador, Monseñor Nouel Province; La Mata Municipality, Sánchez Ramírez Province and Arenoso Municipality, last area studied.