Chemical fractionation of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in selected paddy soils of Iran

The content and fractionation of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in 28 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) of agricultural topsoil from Isfahan Province in central Iran. The order of abundance of metals in the soils was Fe (1240.4 mg kg−1) > Mn (95.7 mg kg−1) > Pb (51.6 mg kg−1) > Zn (23.8 mg kg−1) > Ni (13.4 mg kg−1) > Cu (7.0 mg kg−1) > Cd (2.8 mg kg−1). Iron, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn existed in paddy soils mainly in Fe-Mn oxides (53.6 %, 65.2 %, 40.4 %, 40.8 %, 53.3 %, respectively), whereas Cu and Cd occurred essentially as residual mineral phase (41.4 %) and carbonate (36.1 %), respectively. The mobile and bioavailable fractions of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in paddy soils averaged 48.8, 20.8, 0.79, 29.2, 28.5, 41.1, and 24.8 %, respectively, which suggests that the mobility and bioavailability of the seven metals probably decline in the following order: Cd > Pb > Mn ≥ Ni > Zn > Cu ≫ Fe, suggesting greater contribution of anthropogenic Cd. As Cd in soil is easily accumulated by plants through the root system, the concentration of Cd in these paddy soils could be a concern to human health.