The traceability of copper and zinc in some vegetables from old mining area in Baia Mare, NW Romania

Authors:
Gabriela Oprea, Cristina Mihali, Angela Michnea, Marin Senilă, Lucia Mihalescu, Oana Mare

Volume 17, Issue 3;
Pages: 246-252;
ISSN: 2069-0053 (print) (former: ISSN:1453-1399), Agroprint;
ISSN (online):2068 – 9551

The study follows the assessment of Cu and Zn concentrations in some vegetables and soil in the main districts of Baia Mare, affected by the historical anthropogenic pollution. These elements were analyzed by atomic inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Copper content in soil varied between 6.5 and 2968 mg·kg-1 (normal value 20 mg·kg-1 ), while zinc content in soil ranged between 58 and 3791 mg kg-1 (normal value 100 mg·kg-1 ). In plant, copper concentration varied between 0.35 and 33.6 mg kg-1, and zinc concentration between 2.3 and ·199 mg kg-1. The paper discusses about the transfer of metal ions (Cu and Zn) from contaminated soils to plants in terms of transfer factors (TF). The knowledge of these transfer factors for a given element should enable for prediction, whether a given soil is suitable for the cultivation of plants for consumption purposes.