Bioaccessibility of metals in soils in selected parks in Montreal

Abstract

The main focus of this study was to determine the concentrations and bioaccessibility of metals in Montreal city parks. Surface soil samples were collected from nine parks located across Montreal city and analyzed for total metals, pH, carbon content and bioaccessibility. Metal concentrations were below the Canadian Council of Minister of the Environment soil quality guidelines for residential/parkland use except for Cu in one sample. The order of mean bioaccessibility was Cd (78.9%) > Ba (64.9%) > Pb (53.4%) > Cu (33.0%) > Zn (31.4%) > Co (26.1%) > As (23.9%) > Ni (13.9%) > Fe (7.7%) and Cr (6.7%). Significant relationships between bioaccessibility and soil physicochemical properties were observed for some of the metals. The overall risk associated with the ingestion of metals in soils samples was considered low based on the metal concentrations and bioaccessibility data obtained.