Heavy metals present in Ficus benjamina leaves in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico

Abstract

Goals: General: The collection of dust samples deposited on Ficus benjamina leaves in the Guadalajara metropolitan area (GMA) will allow the identification of heavy metals and their spatial distribution. Specific: Identify the most polluted areas of the city and the elements present by means of particle dispersion schemes (maps) made with the data obtained by the atomic absorption technique. Metodología: For the extraction of heavy metals an acid digestion was performed. The samples were previously homogenized. The determination was made on an atomic absorption spectrophotometer model Varian AA 240 FS, with a monochromator of CZERNY-TURNER design, panel of 4 lamps and inert and adjustable nebulization chamber. The technique used was flame (flame) and calibration curves were used. Contribución: The concentrations of the seven metals analyzed Cu, Zn, Co, Ni, Cd, Pb and Cr were identified, the most abundant being Cu and Pb. The maps allowed to identify that there are some patterns of distribution of the contamination, such was the case of the Cd, Pb and Zn that are distributed very homogeneously on the Lázaro Cárdenas avenue until reaching the supply market area.