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Purpose <p>This study aimed to evaluate the degree of contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils, relating them to agricultural practices and analysing their ecological risk.</p> Methods <p>An assessment of the agronomic properties and levels of PTEs in soils was carried out on samples from agricultural farmlands in the Brinche-Enxoé system (Alentejo Region, Southern Portugal), collected at 0–20&#xa0;cm, during five irrigation campaigns from 2018 to 2020. The study involved the development of key pollution indices namely, the Enrichment Factor (EF), the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), to comprehensively assess type and degree of soil contamination.</p> Results <p>Soils presented a slightly alkaline pH (7.00-8.58), and low soil organic matter contents (0.76–3.03%). Zinc, Cu, and Cd concentrations were below the Portuguese and Canadian guideline limits. Although levels of Cr, Ni, and As exceeded both guidelines for the protection of environmental and human health in agricultural soils in several campaigns, they remained within the range of natural background values ​​reported for the Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ) region. Enrichment factor and Igeo indicate that the studied soils are predominantly unpolluted. The identified PTEs originate primarily from natural geological sources, consistent with the region’s location in the Ossa-Morena Zone. Furthermore, the potential ecological risk index (PERI) values, ranging from 7 to 47, confirm low risk to the local agroecosystem.</p> Conclusions <p>The results demonstrate that the predominant agricultural practices did not contribute significantly to PTE levels in irrigated soils.</p>

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Contamination and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in irrigated agricultural soils (Southern Portugal)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月20日

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  • Mariana Custódio,
  • Adriana Catarino,
  • Alexandra Tomaz,
  • José Dôres,
  • Manuel Patanita,
  • Patrícia Palma

摘要

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the degree of contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils, relating them to agricultural practices and analysing their ecological risk.

Methods

An assessment of the agronomic properties and levels of PTEs in soils was carried out on samples from agricultural farmlands in the Brinche-Enxoé system (Alentejo Region, Southern Portugal), collected at 0–20 cm, during five irrigation campaigns from 2018 to 2020. The study involved the development of key pollution indices namely, the Enrichment Factor (EF), the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), to comprehensively assess type and degree of soil contamination.

Results

Soils presented a slightly alkaline pH (7.00-8.58), and low soil organic matter contents (0.76–3.03%). Zinc, Cu, and Cd concentrations were below the Portuguese and Canadian guideline limits. Although levels of Cr, Ni, and As exceeded both guidelines for the protection of environmental and human health in agricultural soils in several campaigns, they remained within the range of natural background values ​​reported for the Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ) region. Enrichment factor and Igeo indicate that the studied soils are predominantly unpolluted. The identified PTEs originate primarily from natural geological sources, consistent with the region’s location in the Ossa-Morena Zone. Furthermore, the potential ecological risk index (PERI) values, ranging from 7 to 47, confirm low risk to the local agroecosystem.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate that the predominant agricultural practices did not contribute significantly to PTE levels in irrigated soils.