Rapid and Convenient Assessment of Trace Element Contamination in Agricultural Soils through Slurry-TXRF and Ecological Indices: The Ñuble Region, Chile as a Case Study

Guillermo Medina-González, Yelena Medina, Enrique Muñoz () and Patricio Fuentes
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Guillermo Medina-González: Departamento de Química Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción 4090541, Chile
Yelena Medina: Ingeniería EMO-LLS Ltda., Concepción 4030000, Chile
Enrique Muñoz: Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción 4090541, Chile
Patricio Fuentes: Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4030000, Chile

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: The study aims to evaluate the applicability of the slurry-TXRF method for estimating background contents and ecological indices in a rapid and convenient way. For this reason, the agricultural soils of the Itata Valley were used as a case study, where 48 soil samples were collected and analyzed. This rapid, minimally sample-intensive, and simultaneous multi-element quantification technique presented high accuracy but lower precision (approx. 20% RSD) compared to the classic total reflection X-ray fluorescence and flame/graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry methods, which require sample digestion. Due to the analytical characteristics of Slurry-TXRF, it can be concluded that the lower precision is likely compensated for, and this method represents a valuable alternative for the rapid and efficient assessment of trace element contamination in agricultural soils. The regional median concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd in the Itata Valley surface soils were found to be 63.7, 9.57, 31.0, 41.1, and 0.56 mg kg −1 , respectively, with corresponding upper limits of 47.6, 6.82, 17.0, 30.7, and 0.284 mg kg −1 . The ecological indices, including the geoaccumulation index, contamination factor, enrichment factor, and degree of contamination, suggest moderate levels of contamination in the region.

Keywords: agricultural soils; trace metal; background contents; ecological indices; slurry-TXRF (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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