Cobalt distribution in the soils of São Miguel Island (Azores): from volcanoes to health effects

  • Articles in SCI Journals
  • Jun, 2019

Linhares, D., Pimentel, A., Borges, C., Cruz, J.V., Garcia, P.V. & Rodrigues, A.S. (2019) Cobalt distribution in the soils of São Miguel Island (Azores): from volcanoes to health effects.

Science of the Total Environment, 684, 715-721. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.359 (IF2019 6,551; Q1 Environmental Sciences)
Summary:

Volcanic soils cover only approximately 1% of the Earth's surface, yet they support 10% of the world's population due to their inherent fertility. However, deep magmatic processes may lead to depletion of certain elements in volcanic rocks. The imbalance of essential elements, such as cobalt, in soil parent materials can affect the health of plants and grazing animals and, thus, humans. Within the particular geological context of the Azores, the present study aims to assess cobalt concentration in volcanic soils to predict the risk of cobalt deficiency in animals and humans.

Samples from agricultural topsoils and pasture grass were collected in six volcanic regions of São Miguel Island, and their physicochemical properties were measured, including selected transition metal element contents, such as iron, manganese and cobalt. The soil cobalt concentration was below 5 mg/kg in Povoação< Furnas/Congro< Sete Cidades< Fogo and was higher than 10 mg/kg in Picos< Nordeste. Cobalt concentrations were very low in pasture grass. Values below 0.1 mg/kg were observed in Furnas/Congro<Povoação<Fogo<Picos

The results show that there is a significant lack of cobalt in agricultural soils on São Miguel and that it is important to predict the risk of cobalt deprivation due to its significant biological value. Soils deficient in cobalt can reduce plant growth, result in the impairment of vitamin B12 formation in animals, and consequently affect animal and human health.


https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971932412X

Team

  • Cobalt distribution in the soils of São Miguel Island (Azores): from volcanoes to health effects Patrícia Ventura Garcia Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS