Resumen de Environmental risk of trace elements in P-containing fertilizers marketed in Brazil
Fernando Bruno Vieira da Silva, Clístenes Williams Araújo do Nascimento, Paula Renata Muniz Araújo
The input of trace elements (TEs) into agricultural soils from phosphate fertilizers may compromise the sustainability of agroecosystems and pose a risk to human health. We evaluated 53 sources of P marketed in Brazil in regard to As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb concentrations in order to assess the risks associated with their application to soils. Based on the concentrations of TEs and the consumption of different sources, we estimated the amounts of TEs added annually to agricultural soils. As, Cr, Pb, and Hg concentrations did not exceed those found in fertilizers sold in other regions of the world. Phosphate rocks had Cd concentrations that were twice as high as any other source. The potential risk of Cd affecting soil quality is at least nine times higher than that of the other TEs assessed. Due to high consumption, monoammonium phosphates and single superphosphates are the main sources of TEs to Brazilian soils. In general, TEs in P-containing fertilizers sold in Brazil did not pose a high human health risk in a medium time frame. Nevertheless, intensive application of fertilizers with high concentrations of TEs requires monitoring of the TE accumulation in soils to ensure the sustainability of agroecosystems.
