Study finds low to moderate heavy metal levels in Dominican rice-growing soils

Santo Domingo.- A study by Natividad Alberto, a PhD candidate in Environmental Sciences at INTEC, found low to moderate levels of heavy metal contamination in the soils of Bonao, La Mata, and Arenoso—three rice-growing areas in the Yuna River basin. The research aimed to assess toxic elements in the soil, evaluate ecological risks, and establish a baseline for future studies.

The findings indicate that current heavy metal levels do not pose an immediate environmental threat, though cumulative concentrations over time may increase ecological risks due to the persistence of these metals in the soil. Additionally, soil analyses revealed that the physicochemical conditions in these areas are suitable for agriculture.

Advised by professors Lizaira Bello and Oscar Díaz, Alberto also recommended setting reference levels for heavy metals in Dominican agricultural soils to safeguard public, environmental, and animal health. Future studies should include highly toxic metals like cadmium and mercury. The study, using X-ray fluorescence analysis, identified low to moderate levels of metals such as lead, zinc, and arsenic linked to farming, while iron, manganese, and chromium were attributed to natural soil characteristics.