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Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis; 2008; v. 8; issue.1; p. 103-112;
DOI: 10.1144/1467-7873/07-148
© 2008 Geological Society of London

Original Article

Heavy metal pollution and Pb isotopes in urban soils of Napoli, Italy

D. Cicchella1, B. De Vivo2, A. Lima2, S. Albanese2, R.A.R. McGill3 & R.R. Parrish3

1 Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini 59/A, 82100 Benevento, Italy (cidom{at}unisannio.it)
2 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Napoli 'Federico II', Via Mezzocannone 8, 80138 Napoli, Italy
3 NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Nottingham, UK

Lead isotope analysis is an increasingly widespread tool in the study of environmental pollution as Pb isotope compositions do not change during industrial and environmental processes, and always reflect their source origin. In this study we present the results of R-mode factor analysis for associations between chemical elements in Neapolitan soils, combined with the distribution of Pb concentrations and Pb isotope compositions in order to differentiate natural from anthropogenic metal sources. Results show Neapolitan urban soils to be significantly enriched in Pb, Hg, Zn, Sb, and to a lesser extent in Cu, Cd, Cr and Ni. Lead isotope measurements form a trend suggesting mixing between two end-member compositions, one of clear natural origin (geogenic) and another related to human activities (anthropogenic). Lead isotope investigations demonstrate that road traffic is one of the main sources of metal pollution.

Key Words: heavy metal • urban soil • environmental pollution • Pb isotopes • R-mode factor analysis




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D. Cicchella, B. De Vivo, A. Lima, S. Albanese, and L. Fedele
Urban geochemical mapping in the Campania region (Italy)
Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, 2008; 8: 19 - 29.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]