Studying potentially toxic trace elements in soil-plant system: a case study of an olive orchard in southern Italy (Calabria)

Soil to plant Transfer Factors (TFs) are commonly used to estimate the food chain transfer of chemical elements. The entry of trace contaminants, such as potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs), from soil, into human food chains, is controlled in the long term by their uptake by plant roots. Some PTEs in the soil-plant system were studied through the TFs in an olive orchard in southern Italy. Soil samples and olive leaves were collected and analysed for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, clay content and cation exchange capacity were measured in soil samples. Factor of trace elements from soil to olive plants showed average value <1, suggesting less uptake of PTEs from soil.