Temporal Variations of Heavy Metal Sources in Agricultural Soils in Malta

In the opportunity to understand benefits of Maltese soil and its importance our climate, content heavy metals—including Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Zn—was studied in two fields proximity south-east region Malta. Analytical determinations were carried out using atomic absorption spectroscopy following heated aqua regia digestion on 50 collected samples triple repeatability. The decreasing pattern concentrations obtained is Fe > Zn Mn Sr Pb Cu Ni Cr Co. Correlations between pre-harvesting post-harvesting examined assess lithogenic anthropogenic relationships. Multivariate analysis including principal component factor clarified origin metals reviewed. Some showed a dominant relationship concentration variation their possible sources. Potential ecological risk assessment demonstrated that reviewed are not contaminated by any assessed except for which posed moderate/strong contamination but presented an overall low potential risk. Concentrations no human health carcinogenic through ingestion dermal contact with soil.