Heavy Metals Contamination in Greenhouse Soils and Vegetables in Guanzhong, China

Abstract

This study used a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) and atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer (AFS) to detect the concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), hydrargyrum (Hg) and arsenic (As) in soils and three genotypes of vegetables in greenhouse, as well as analyzed the physical and chemical properties of soils, including soil pH, soil organic matter (OM), basic nutrients, electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in Guanzhong areas, Shaanxi province, China. The results showed that comparing to subsoil, the sampled topsoil is enriched in Cr, Cd, Pb, As and Hg. Cd (0.83 - 3.17 mg∙kg−1) and Hg (0.40 - 1.44 mg∙kg−1) are exceeding the limited value stated in “the 2006 Greenhouse Vegetable Producing Environmental Quality Evaluation Standards” of 0.40 mg∙kg−1 and 0.35 mg∙kg−1 respectively. However, Nanzhuang greenhouse soil is within the limits...