Element distribution of some soils of Continental Chile and the Antarctic Peninsula. Protection to atmospheric pollution.

Abstract

The elemental content of some soils of continental Chile and the Antarctic Peninsula are reported. The elements: Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were analyzed. Trace elements differed among soils. The values for Cd are greater than those reperted elsewhere. The organic matter content was observed to have a great importance in the Antarctic Peninsula soils. Differences between local element contents and the mean concentrations values for the terrestrial crust were found. In order to get a better determination of the origin of the aerosol the enrichment factor, used as a criterion to establish the origin of the trace elements in the atmospheric aerosols, should be recalculated based on the local soil.