Assessing soil contamination in automobile scrap yards by portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and magnetic susceptibility

Authors: BARBOSA, JULIERME - Uninga University Center; POGGERE, GIOVANA - Federal University Of Lavras; TEIXEIRA, WILSON - Universidade Federal Do Parana; MOTTA, ANTONIO - Universidade Federal Do Parana; Prior, Stephen - Steve; CURI, NILTON - Federal University Of Lavras

Submitted to: Environment Monitoring and Assessment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/9/2019
Publication Date: 12/16/2019
Citation: Barbosa, J.Z., Poggere, G.C., Teixeira, W.W., Motta, A.C., Prior, S.A., Curi, N. 2020. Assessing soil contamination in automobile scrap yards by portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and magnetic susceptibility. Environment Monitoring and Assessment. 192:46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-8025-8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-8025-8

Interpretive Summary: As populations increase, automobile scrap yards are becoming a potential source of soil contamination. The potential of portable X-ray fluorescence and magnetic susceptibility techniques to quickly assess scrap yard soils was studied. Soil contamination by copper, lead, zinc, and zirconium were noted in the 0-10 cm soil layer, with zinc being the worst contaminant. Other metals were detected but not at contamination levels. Increases in magnetic characteristics in the soil surface layer indicated metal contributions from human activity. These techniques show promise for quickly evaluating automotive scrap yard soils.

Technical Abstract: A byproduct of industrialization and population growth, automobile scrap yards are a potential source of metal contamination in soil. This study evaluated the use of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry and magnetic susceptibility analysis (X) in assessing metal soil contamination in scrap yards located in southern Brazil. Five automobile scrap yards were selected in Curitiba, Paraná (CB1, CB2, and CB3) and Lavras, Minas Gerais (LV1 and LV2). By evaluating metal concentrations and geoaccumulation index values, we verified moderate Cu, Pb, and Zr contamination and moderate to high Zn contamination, primarily in the topsoil (0-10 cm). Although other elements (i.e., As, Cr, Fe, Nb, Ni, and Y) were slightly increased compared to reference values in one or more soils, concentrations did not constitute contamination. Increases in X at low frequency ('lf) in the topsoil and magnetic multidomain characteristics (percent frequency-dependent susceptibility between 2 and 10) indicate magnetic particle contributions of anthropogenic origin. The joint use of pXRF and X non-destructive techniques displays potential for identifying soil contamination in automobile scrap yards.