Pedotransfer function in the evaluation of the contents of potentially toxic elements in soils from the State of São Paulo

Abstract

The concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the environment is a great concern. Because of human activity, their concentration may reach high levels, thus causing accumulation on the environment and consequently their input on food chain. Extractors such as 0.43 M HNO3 and 0.01 M CaCl2 are used to extract contents of PTEs linked to reactive and available pools in soil, and to assess the environmental and human health potential risks. Models derived from pedotransfer function estimate PTEs contents based on soil properties and on PTEs solid-solution transfer. Researchers have been using successfully pedotransfer models in soils samples of countries from temperate regions. Under humid tropical conditions, however, there are few studies, mainly in Brazil regarding this issue. Based on its importance, we aim to evaluate the reactive and the extractable pools of Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn in soils of São Paulo state using as 0.43 M HNO3 and 0.01 M CaCl2 extraction procedures. We also will estimate their availability by means of pedotransfer models as a function of the contents of the PTEs and soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties. This study will be developed in the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal, whose research group, in cooperation with the Institute Alterra Wageningen, Netherlands, is well established and has been extremely active when working with pedotransfer models for PTEs in soils. (AU)