Associations between land cover categories, soil concentrations of arsenic, lead and barium, and population race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status

Sci Total Environ. 2014 Aug 15:490:1051-6. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.076. Epub 2014 Jun 7.

Abstract

The potential of using land cover/use categories as a proxy for soil metal concentrations was examined by measuring associations between Anderson land cover category percentages and soil concentrations of As, Pb, and Ba in ten sampling areas. Land cover category and metal associations with ethnicity and socioeconomic status at the United States Census 2000 block and block group levels also were investigated. Arsenic and Pb were highest in urban locations; Ba was a function of geology. Consistent associations were observed between urban/built up land cover, and Pb and poverty. Land cover can be used as proxy for metal concentrations, although associations are metal-dependent.

Keywords: Anderson land cover/use; GIS; Human health; Metals; Residential soils.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / analysis
  • Barium / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Environmental Pollution / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Lead / analysis
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis*
  • Social Class
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Barium
  • Lead
  • Arsenic