Trace elements status in the terrain of an impounded vehicle scrapyard

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 311; no. 2; pp. 1323 - 1332
• Main Authors: Lange, Camila Neves, Figueiredo, Ana Maria Graciano, Enzweiler, Jacinta, Castro, Liliana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-02-2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chromium; Copper; Crashworthiness; Diagnostic Radiology; Earth crust; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Impact strength; Inorganic Chemistry; Molybdenum; Nickel; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Physical Chemistry; Pollution; Rare earth elements; Rare earth metals; Scrap; Scrap metal industry; Terrain; Topsoil; Trace elements; Zinc; Brazil, Sao Paulo; Vehicle scrapyard; Soils; Neutron activation analysis; Potentially toxic elements
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-016-5078-9

The impact of a scrapyard of impounded vehicles in São Paulo state on topsoil was evaluated for As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and rare earth elements (REEs). Mass fractions of all elements, except for Co, Cu, Mo and Zn, were higher than reference values. Hot spots were observed for most elements suggesting vehicular source. The geoaccumulation index showed moderate pollution of As. The enrichment factor pointed to a significant enrichment of As, Mo and Pb. The normalization of REEs to Earth’s crust values indicated a positive anomaly of Ce. The results indicate a potential risk to the soil quality of the scrapyard.