Chromium, cobalt and nickel contents in urban soils of Moa, northeastern Cuba.

ABSTRACT

Iron, chromium, cobalt and nickel concentration levels in urban soil samples collected from Moa city (Holguín province), northeastern Cuba were determined. Both chromium and nickel contents exceed the Dutch Intervention Value soil quality standard in 2.8-5.4 and 1.3-3.3 times, respectively. Furthermore, cobalt content exceeds the Target Value in 1.3-1.8 times. Metal-to-Iron normalization predicts a natural origin for nickel and cobalt (Enrichment Factor <1), and also a moderate chromium enrichment (Enrichment Factor = 1.5-4.0) in all studied stations. The application of the Urban Environment Entropy Model show that residential area located near to industrial area is slightly affected by industrial chromium emissions and not affected by cobalt and nickel possible emissions. A chromium speciation in soil samples is recommended in order to evaluate the real impact of the current chromium content in Moa urban soils to local urban and suburban agricultures.