Transfer of Heavy Metals in Northeast Brazil's Topsoils: Insights from Sequential Extraction and Statistical Tools

Transfer of Heavy Metals in Northeast Brazil's Topsoils: Insights from Sequential Extraction and Statistical Tools | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Transfer of Heavy Metals in Northeast Brazil's Topsoils: Insights from Sequential Extraction and Statistical Tools Zahily Herrero Fernández, José Araújo dos Santos Júnior, Romilton dos Santos Amaral, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3328679/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the distribution and mobility of trace metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn) in surface soils of Pernambuco state, Northeast Brazil, applying sequential extraction techniques defined by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) and complemented by statistical analysis through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation matrix. Analysis of fifty topsoil samples showed that most metals predominantly reside in the residual fraction. However, Cd, Ni, and Zn were significantly present in the mobile fraction. Cd and Pb were closely associated with iron and manganese oxides, indicating their potential mobility within environmental matrices. Cu, however, was primarily detected under oxidising conditions in the residual fraction. PCA revealed a positive correlation of soil pH with Ni, Cu, and Cr and a negative correlation with Zn, Cd, and Pb. Factors such as organic matter and soil texture also play significant roles in influencing the mobility of these metals. The study highlights significant variances across different soil classes, underscoring the complex nature of soil chemistry. These findings emphasise the importance of sequential extraction and PCA in assessing metal solubility and availability, which is crucial for effective environmental management and agricultural practices. Environmental Chemistry Trace elements soil environmental geology geologic maps adsorption of elements availability Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3328679","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":233405597,"identity":"0568e2df-8025-4a4d-9363-122343eda26a","order_by":0,"name":"Zahily Herrero 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