Arch Environ Contam Toxicol
DOI 10.1007/s00244-012-9867-z
Availability of Heavy Metals (Cd, Pb, and Cr) in Agriculture
from Commercial Fertilizers
H. Nacke • A. C. Gonçalves Jr • D. Schwantes •
I. A. Nava • L. Strey • G. F. Coelho
Received: 31 July 2012 / Accepted: 29 December 2012
Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the
availability of the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb),
and chromium (Cr) to soil and maize plants fertilized with
different sources and doses of zinc (Zn) in a Rhodic
Eutrudox soil. For that purpose, concentrations of Cd, Pb,
and Cr were evaluated in leaf tissue and grains of maize
plants and in 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers after fertil-
ization with four doses of Zn from eight different sources
of fertilizer. There was no accumulation of Cd, Pb, and Cr
in maize grain and Cd and Cr in leaf tissue of the plants;
nevertheless, there was accumulation of Pb in leaf tissue,
showing its availability throughout different sources of Zn
and consequent uptake by plants. Regarding the soil, it was
observed that fertilizer from the different sources made Cd,
Pb, and Cr available at increasing amounts proportional to
increased Zn doses. Under experimental conditions, fertil-
ization with Zn increased concentrations of heavy metals
Cd, Pb and Cr in soil, further highlighting the importance
of conducting more studies related to the application of
mineral fertilizers for micronutrient supply and the avail-
ability of heavy metals.
Micronutrient deficiency and consequent provision of
micronutrients occur ever more frequently in agricultural
crops throughout the world (Gimeno-Garcı́a et al. 1996;
Accioly et al. 2000; Oliveira et al. 2001). Among micro-
nutrients used in agriculture, zinc (Zn) stands out because
major grain-producing countries (i.e. United States, China,
H. Nacke (&)
A. C. Gonçalves Jr
D. Schwantes

I. A. Nava
L. Strey
G. F. Coelho
Western Paraná State University, Pernambuco Street 1777,
Marechal Cândido Rondon 85960-000, Brazil
e-mail: herbertnacke@hotmail.com
Brazil, India, and Mexico) have considerably large areas
with a deficiency of this element (Alloway 2008). More-
over, most of the major annual crops, such as corn, rice,
bean, and soybean, have expressive sensitivity to Zn defi-
ciency (Alloway 2009).
This fact increases fertilizer consumption in each crop
year. During the 1960s, approximately 46 million tons of
fertilizers were used, and in 2030 it was estimated that
157.3 million tons of them will be necessary for crops
throughout the world (Ayoub 1999; Daher 2008). Fur-
thermore, according to Yamada (2004), micronutrient
consumption in Brazil increased 13.3 times in the period
from 1990 to 2003.
This high and growing dependence on fertilizer to
achieve greater crop yields raises concern from an envi-
ronmental perspective because the fertilizers used to supply
both macronutrients and micronutrients may have heavy
metals in their composition in addition to the desirable
elements (Gonçalves Junior et al. 2000). This fact becomes
even more significant in developing countries, such as
Brazil, where in general legislation and monitoring are less
strict compared with those of developed countries. In other
developing countries, e.g., Argentina, there have also been
reports of heavy-metal contamination problems in agri-
culture, (Gimeno-Garcı́a et al. 1996; Camelo et al. 1997)
and China (Zhuang et al. 2009; Jan et al. 2010; Yang et al.
2011). Elements such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and
chromium (Cd), may accumulate in soil and be taken up by
plants, thus leading to contamination of the environment,
the food chain, and underground waters, resulting in seri-
ous environmental damage (Usman & Mohamed 2009;
Baldantoni et al. 2010).
In recent years, with a view toward decreasing costs in
fertilizer production in Brazil, some companies that for-
mulate these products have been using industrial residues
123

as a source of nutrients, which often proves to be dangerous
because, in addition to desirable micronutrients, these
sources may contain toxic elements (Rodella 2005; Gon-
çalves Junior et al. 2011). Moreover, there are signs that
some of the formulators of micronutrients have been
importing industrial waste from developed countries and
using it as raw material in producing their fertilizers
(Gonçalves Junior & Pessoa 2002), a practice considered
illegal according to the Basel Convention established in
1992 by the United Nations Environment Program.
Based on the situation indicated described previously, a
study was undertaken for the purpose of evaluating the
availability of the heavy metals Cd, Pb and Cr to soil and
maize plants (Zea mays L.) fertilized with different sources
and doses of the micronutrient Zn in a Rhodic Eutrudox
soil in the setting of a field experiment.
Experimental
The experiment was performed in the municipality of Mer-
cedes, PR, Brazil (248 41’ S and 548 25’ W (Fig. 1); average
altitude 415 m). The climate of the location is subtropical
(Cfa) according to Köppen classification, without a defined
dry season and with hot summers and a tendency for con-
centrated rainfalls during this season. The annual average
temperature of the region is 21 °C (minimum of 14 °C,
maximum of 28 °C). The soil in the experimental location is
classified as Rhodic Eutrudox (Food and Agriculture Orga-
nization 2006) and has a clayey texture (558.50 g kg-1 clay,
278.61 g kg-1 silt, and 162.89 g kg-1 sand).
Fig. 1 Locate where the experiment was performed
123
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol
A randomized block experimental design was used in
this experiment in an 8 9 4 factorial arrangement with
three replications, with the factors being constituted by
eight different sources and four different doses of Zn (0, 2,
4 and 6 kg ha-1) for a total of 32 treatments and 96
experimental plots. The eight sources of Zn used in this
experiment were in the form of granules from seven fer-
tilizer companies that used two raw materials, zinc oxide
(ZnO) and another called ‘‘fritted trace elements’’ (FTE),
which are micronutrients bonded with silicates at high
temperatures. Because this work aimed to evaluate the
fertilizers available on the market, all sources were pur-
chased commercially so that we would have only the
producers’ information about the origin and formulation of
their product. Thus, the sources were classified in the fol-
lowing manner:
Source A = granulated ZnO with 15 % Zn from com-
pany 1
Source B = granulated ZnO with 10 % Zn from com-
pany 2
Source C = granulated FTE with15 % Zn from com-
pany 3
Source D = granulated FTE with 15 % Zn from com-
pany 4
Source E = granulated FTE with 10 % Zn from com-
pany 5
Source F = granulated FTE with 15 % Zn from com-
pany 6
Source G = granulated ZnO with 2 % Zn from company
1 (but with a different formulation)
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

Source H = granulated FTE with 15 % Zn from com- had been planted for 2 years with a soybean–maize
pany 7 succession.
At 25 days after emergence (DAE), top dress fertilization
It should be emphasized that in this study only the
was performed for the N nutrient with the application of
doses of Zn were varied so that fertilization with
100 kg ha-1 N in the form of urea (Coelho 2006). To
macronutrients—which were applied at the time of sowing
determine the bioavailability of Cd, Pb, and Cr to maize
and consisted of the elements nitrogen (N), phosphorus
plants, contents of these elements in leaf tissue and kernels
(P), and potassium (K)—was identical in all of the treat-
were determined using nitric perchloric digestion (Associ-
ments. As macronutrient sources, ammonium sulfate
ation of Analytical Communities 2005) followed by FAAS
[(NH4)2SO4] was used for N; simple super-phosphate (SS)
(Welz & Sperling 1999). For this purpose, leaf tissue was
was used for P; and potassium chloride (KCl) was used
collected on the appearance of female inflorescence (stage
for K.
R1) (Ritchie et al. 2003) i.e. at 61 DAE. Leaves from the part
Table 1 lists the following: concentrations of Cd, Pb,
opposite and below the upper ear of four plants, which were
and Cr at depths of 0–20 and 20–40 cm of the soil used in
chosen randomly from each plot, were collected, placed in
the experiment as well as the Zn sources and the prepared
clean bags, and identified. In the laboratory, leaves were
N:P2O5:K2O fertilizer formulation. To obtain these data, all
washed with detergent and distilled, deionized water;
materials were ground and homogenized to a particle
afterward, the midrib of the leaves was removed and the
size \2 mm, after that nitric perchloric digestion (Associ-
leaves dried in a forced-air circulation laboratory oven at 65
ation of Analytical Communities 2005) was performed,
°C for 48 h. Then the leaves were ground, homogenized to a
followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry tech-
particle size \2 mm, stored in clean bags, and identified for
niques (FAAS) (Welz & Sperling 1999).
later analysis.
Each evaluation plot of the experiment consisted of five
Maize kernels were collected at 119 DAE at the end of
planted rows at a spacing of 0.9 m width and 4.0 m length.
the experiment, at which time collection of the ears from
The three center rows were used as the useful plot, ignoring
the entire useable plot was performed. After the kernels
the 1.0 m border at the edges, thus yielding a useable area
were dried, they were ground and homogenized to a par-
of 5.4 m2. The area in which this experiment was per-
ticle size \2 mm, stored in clean polyethylene bags, and
formed was managed by a conventional planting system
identified for later analysis.
without the practice of turning the soil; however, this area
In addition, after the end of the experiment, soil samples
were collected to study the availability of Cd, Pb, and Cr
from different sources of Zn. For that purpose, three soil
Table 1 Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cr in experimental soil at
samples were collected at a depth of 0–20 cm within each
depths of 0–20 and 20–40 cm from eight Zn fertilizer sources as well
as in the prepared N:P2O5:K2O mixture as well as maximum allow- experimental plot using a Dutch auger. The samples were
able values by Brazilian legislation mixed to form a single compound sample. The same pro-
Sample Cd Pb Cr cedure was performed to obtain samples from the
(mg kg-1) (mg kg-1) (mg kg-1) 20–40 cm layer of the soil. After soil samples were col-
lected, they were sent to the laboratory and dried in a
Soil (0–20 cm) 1.03 25.32 10.29
forced-air circulation laboratory oven at 40 °C for 48 h.
Soil (20–40 cm) 1.22 34.83 10.97 The samples were ground, stored in clean polyethylene
Source A 178.89 2,746.82 309.87 bags, and identified for later analysis using nitric perchloric
Source B 245.06 2,450.57 20.28 digestion (Association of Analytical Communities 2005)
Source C 123.37 1,362.55 33.14 followed by FAAS (Welz & Sperling 1999).
Source D 203.82 9,872.82 1,304.42 For statistical analysis of the data, GENES software
Source E 237.19 2,011.39 33.21 (Cruz 2006) was used with analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Source F 115.08 1,380.96 27.62 at the 5 % significance level first being performed. If there
Source G 6.54 233.47 48.56 was a significant effect among the sources, Tukey test at
Source H 211.74 11,039.46 1,347.45 5 % probability was used; for the Zn doses, polynomial
N:P2O5:K2O 3.67 32.12 14.68 regression analysis was used. For the purpose of adjusting
Maximum allowable valuea 450.00 10,000.00 NAb for normality of the data, transformation of the data for leaf
a
Maximum allowable value for Cd and Pb in fertilizers based on concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr in the 0–20 cm soil layer
normative instruction no. 27 from the Brazilian ministry of agricul- and of Cr in the 20–40 cm soil layer was necessary. The
ture, livestock and food supply (Brazil 2006) root square transformation of the sum of the value of the
b
There is no maximum allowable value for Cr result at 0.5 was used.

123

Results and Discussion
We compared the concentrations of Cd and Pb obtained
from the analysis of the fertilizers with the maximum
values permitted in fertilizers for supply of micronutrients
as stipulated by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Food Supply by means of Normative
Instruction No. 27 of 2006 (Table 1). The allowable
maximum values of Pb and Cd are 10,000.00 and
450.00 mg kg-1, respectively, but only fertilizer from
source H contained greater Pb levels (11,039.46 mg kg-1).
It should be noted that in this Normative Instruction, which
is the current guideline for fertilizer inspection in Brazil,
reference values are not presented for Cr concentrations in
fertilizers for micronutrient supply, which may permit the
use of residues with high concentration of this heavy metal.
In the chemical analyses undertaken in this study, Cd
and Cr contents were not detected in leaf tissue of plants,
and Cd, Pb, and Cr were not detected in maize kernels.
According to (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 2001), the
maximum level of Cd in agricultural crops is
0.05–0.5 mg kg-1; the maximum level of Cr is 5 mg kg-1;
and the maximum level of Pb is 0.5–10 mg kg-1. The lack
of detection of these metals in our soils may be considered
normal because the plants may take up significant quanti-
ties of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb and Cr; however, these
metals in general are not greatly translocated to cereal
grains (Mortvedt 2001; Malavolta 2006; Shtangeeva et al.
2011). It should be noted that this dynamic generally
occurs in soils with low concentrations of heavy metals; in
soils with high concentrations, plants may accumulate
these elements in their grains. Dudka et al. (1994) studied
wheat development in soils with high concentrations of Cd
and observed that this toxic heavy metal did not prove to be
harmful to plants; however, the grain produced by them
had levels considered toxic for animals and human beings.
Analysis of variance (ANOVA; Table 2) showed that
for leaf Pb concentrations, there was a significant differ-
ence (P \ 0.05) for the sources and doses of Zn as well as
the interaction between these two factors. Cd and Cr con-
centrations in the 0–20 cm soil layer and Cd and Pb con-
centrations in the 20–40 cm soil layer showed a significant
difference (P \ 0.05) only for Zn dose. For Pb concen-
trations in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer, a significant effect
was observed (P \ 0.05) for Zn dose as well as the inter-
action between source and dose of Zn. Finally, for Cr
contents in the 20- to 40-cm soil layer, there was no sig-
nificant difference (P [ 0.05) among any of the factors
evaluated.
Mean values of Pb concentrations in leaf tissue of maize
plants are listed in Table 3, where it may be observed that
the D and H sources of Zn provided greater contents
(P \ 0.05) of this toxic heavy metal to leaf tissue of plants
123
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol
compared with the other sources. These results may be
explained by the Pb concentrations in these two sources
(Table 1), which were greater than that of the other sour-
ces. Moreover, regarding leaf Pb concentrations in the
breakdown of the interaction among doses and sources of
Zn, a linear effect (P \ 0.05) was obtained only for sources
D and H (Fig. 2). The maize plants were not saturated with
Pb, showing that maize plants may naturally accumulate
greater quantities of this metal and that sources D and H
provided effective Pb availability to the crop.
The greatest dose of Zn used in this experiment
(6.0 kg ha-1) provided 7.87 and 7.27 mg kg-1 of Pb from
sources D and H, respectively, showing that a critical
concentrations of Pb (10 mg kg-1) did not occur in the
plants. Nevertheless, these values may be considered high
because they occurred with only one application of fertil-
izer from these Zn sources.
These results show that more studies related to mineral
fertilization with micronutrients and contamination by
heavy metals are necessary because continuous application
may lead to greater accumulations of these elements in the
soil and thus increase their consequent availability to plants
(Camelo et al. 1997).
Regarding Cd concentrations in the two soil layers
evaluated, a growing linear increase (P \ 0.05) of this ele-
ment was observed as a function of Zn dose (Figs. 3 and 4).
The greatest dose of Zn used in this experiment
(6.0 kg ha-1) made an average of 2.27 and of 2.76 mg kg-1
of Cd available to the soil in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm layers,
respectively.
According to Resolution 420 of the Brazilian National
Environmental Council (CONAMA) (Brazil 2009), which
establishes soil-quality guidelines regarding the presence
of chemical substances in Brazil, the maximum value
permitted in agricultural areas is 3 mg kg-1. The greatest
Cd concentrations obtained in this study were less than,
albeit near, the maximum limit permitted by Brazilian
legislation.
Moreover, comparing Cd values obtained in soil samples
with (1) maximum values commonly found in soils of the
United States (2.00 mg kg-1) and Russia (1.14 mg kg-1)
(Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 2001), (2) values normally
found in soils (0.01 to 2.00 mg kg-1) (Bowen 1979), and (3)
the limit value established by the environmental quality
standards of China (State Environmental Protection
Administration 1995 [0.60 mg kg-1]), it may be inferred
that the Zn sources used in this experiment made Cd
available to the soil at a contaminant level.
Regarding Pb concentrations in soil after the experi-
ment, for the 0- to 20-cm layer in the breakdown of sig-
nificant interaction, an effect was only obtained for sources
D and H, just as was observed for leaf Pb. Thus, regression
was performed for these sources, in which we determined
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

Table 2 ANOVA for the results of Pb concentrations in leaf tissue of maize plants as well as Cd, Pb, and Cr concentrations in 0–20 cm and
20–40 cm soil layers
VS df Mean squares
Leaf Pb Cd Pb Cr Cd Pb Cr
0–20 cm 0–20 cm 0–20 cm 20–40 cm 20–40 cm 20–40 cm

Block 2 0.13 1.68 47.43 1.31 0.06 16.82 0.66

Doses (A) 3 2.47** 0.42** 189.36** 4.70** 10.86** 1203.39** 1.51NS
Sources (B) 7 1.21** 0.02NS 22.65NS 0.24NS 0.08NS 16.55NS 1.06NS
NS NS NS NS
A9B 21 0.25** 0.04 42.07* 0.17 0.09 14.50 0.61NS
Residue 62 0.05 0.04 21.42 0.27 0.07 11.65 1.08
CV (%) – 16.91 12.90 13.48 13.06 11.93 7.42 22.31
VS variation source, CV = coefficient of variation
** Significant at 1 % by Student t test
* Significant at 5 % by Student t test
NS = not significant at 5 % by Student t test

Table 3 Leaf Pb concentrations in maize plants fertilized with dif- 10

Leaf Pb concentration (mg kg -1)

Source D Source H
ferent sources and doses of Zn Source D Source H
8
Source Zn dose (kg ha-1)*
Source H
[Pb] = 1.117x + 0.565
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 R² = 0.972
6
Source D
Source A 1.00a 1.33a 1.67b 2.00b [Pb] = 1.233x + 0.467
Source B 1.00a 1.33a 1.67b 2.00b 4 R² = 0.934
a a b b
Source C 1.00 1.33 1.67 2.00
Source D 1.00a 1.33a 4.67a 7.67a 2
a a b b
Source E 1.00 1.33 1.67 2.00
0
Source F 1.00a 1.33a 1.67b 2.00b 0 2 4 6
a a b b
Source G 1.00 1.33 1.67 2.00 Zn doses (kg ha-1)
Source H 1.00a 2.67a 4.33a 8.67a
Fig. 2 Leaf Pb concentration as a function of Zn doses from sources
MSD 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.85
D and H
The letters a and b present in this table are used to differentiate the
means of Pb concentrations found in the different sources of Zn, this
way, a mean with the letter a will be different from a mean with the
letter b
MSD minimum significant difference 3
Soil Cd concentration (mg kg-1)

* Mean values followed by different superscript letters in the same

column differ by Tukey test at 5 % probability

[Cd] = 0.176x + 1.214

that the linear model best explains the data distribution R² = 0.977
(Fig. 5). For the 20–40 cm soil layer, quadratic regression
1
provided the best adjustment for the values of this metal
(Fig. 6).
Again, for both soil layers, as Zn doses increased, there
was an increase in soil Pb concentrations: 46.54 and 0
0 2 4 6
44.22 mg kg-1 Pb were obtained, respectively, for fertil-
Zn doses (kg ha-1)
izer sources D and H in the 0–20 cm soil layer, and a mean
of 51.48 mg kg-1 Pb was obtained for Zn fertilizers from Fig. 3 Cd concentration in the 0–20 cm soil layer as a function of Zn
all sources in the 20–40 cm soil layer. dose

123
 Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

Soil Cd concentration (mg kg-1) 3 20

Soil Cr concentration (mg kg-1)

18

16
2 [Cd] = 0.249x + 1.262
R² = 0.867 [Cr] = 1.359x + 10.632
14 R² = 0.892

12

1 10
0 2 4 6 0 2 4 6

Zn doses (kg ha-1) Zn doses (kg ha-1)

Fig. 4 Cd concentration in the 20–40 cm soil layer as a function of Fig. 7 Cr concentration in the 0–20 cm soil layer as a function of Zn
Zn dose dose

50
limit stipulated for agricultural soils (72 mg kg-1). In the
Source D Source H case of Pb, it should be highlighted that values of this
Soil Pb concentration (mg kg-1)

Source D Source H
Source D
element in soil at the dose of 0 kg ha-1 Zn, which corre-
45
[Pb] = 3.174x + 27.491 sponds to Pb content in experimental soil without appli-
R² = 0.989
cation of Zn, ranged from 27.56 to 36.53 mg kg-1 for the
40
0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively, showing
Source H that the soil already had a high initial content of this toxic
35
[Pb] = 2.915x + 26.733
R² = 0.998
heavy metal, probably from fertilizers applied before this
study.
30
Pb contents in both soil layers were greater than
the average of farmable soils in the United States
25
0 2 4 6 (10.6 mg kg-1), Poland (20.9 mg kg-1), and worldwide
Zn doses (kg ha-1) (25 mg kg-1) (Kabata-Pendias & Pendias 2001), within the
levels commonly found in soils (2–300 mg kg-1) (Bowen
Fig. 5 Pb concentration in the 0–20 cm soil layer as a function of the
D and H doses of Zn used in the experiment
1979), and lower than the environmental quality standards of
China (350 mg kg-1 [State Environmental Protection
Administration 1995]).
55
For Cr, regression was performed only for the 0–20 cm
Soil Pb concentration (mg kg-1)

50 soil layer (Table 2), in which a linear effect was obtained,

showing that just as for the other metals analyzed in this
45
[Pb] = 2.488x + 36.534
study, there is increased content of this heavy metal in soil
R² = 0.906 with an increase in Zn dose (Fig. 7).
40
By means of the regression equation obtained, we
35 established that the greatest Zn dose used (6.0 kg ha-1)
made a concentration of 18.43 mg kg-1 of Cr available,
30 which is less than the maximum limit permitted by Bra-
zilian legislation (Brazil 2009) of 75.00 mg kg-1, thus
25
0 2 4 6 affirmation that the soil was not previously contaminated
Zn doses (kg ha ) -1 by this heavy metal. The values obtained in this study are
less than those commonly found in soils (5 to 1,500
Fig. 6 Pb concentration in the 20–40 cm soil layer as a function of mg kg-1 [Bowen 1979]) and less than the maximum
Zn dose
established by legislation in China (250 mg kg-1 [State
Environmental Protection Administration 1995]).
Comparing Pb contents in soil after the experiment with It should be emphasized that the values established for all
the values established by Resolution No. 420 of CONAMA of the metals by CONAMA in Resolution No. 420 (Brazil
(Brazil 2009), the former were lower than the maximum 2009) are based on methods 3,050 and 3,051 of the United

123
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol
States Environmental Protection Agency. These determi-
nations were made using total digestion of the samples with
strong acids, the same procedure performed in this study,
thus allowing comparison of results (Rauret 1998).
It should furthermore be highlighted that before
approval of Resolution No. 420 of CONAMA (Brazil
2009), there was serious questioning on the part of Bra-
zilian authorities and researchers in relation to the criteria
used for its formulation by means of Proceeding
02000.002955/2004-69 (Paula Junior 2011; Varjabedian &
Leite 2009; Brazilian Ministry of Environment 2011), thus
confirming the need for more societal discussion (espe-
cially among the specialized technical and scientific seg-
ments in a multidisciplinary manner) before this is
submitted for approval of possible resolution. The resolu-
tion, moreover, violates the Brazilian Federal Constitution
with respect to the ‘‘preservation, improvement and
recovery of the environmental quality favorable to life’’
because it permits the introduction of contaminants in the
soil up to the maximum limit permitted by the resolution,
thus allowing the use of contaminated fertilizers and soil
conditioners in agriculture until they reach and exceed
these values and thereby degrade environmental quality.
Therefore, the need for more in-depth field studies in
relation to environmental legislation before it is drafted and
approved becomes clear. These studies must be undertaken
together with environmental regulatory bodies and research
entities in the country. Based on the results obtained in this
study, it is evident that some of the Zn fertilizer sold by
sources in Brazil significantly affect the quantity of Cd, Pb,
and Cr in soil. If their use is continued, there may be
contamination of soil, surface and underground waters,
plants, animals, and humans, leading to severe damage to
health as well as the environment. This fact raises concern
because according to Gimeno-Garcı́a et al. (1996); Ryser
and Sauder (2006); and Jan et al. (2010), even low levels of
heavy metals in soil may be available to plants, an effect
that is difficult to ascertain because the symptoms they case
occur only over the long term, thus increasing even more
the hazards associated with the use of contaminated
materials in agricultural activities.
Conclusion
The results reported here show that there was no accu-
mulation of Cd, Pb, and Cr in maize kernels by means of
fertilizer from different sources at different doses of Zn
micronutrient, with the exception of Pb detected in leaf
tissue. Nevertheless, Zn fertilizer used from different
sources led to increased concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Cr in
soil and may result in contamination of the food chain and
the environment if successive applications are made.
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