scholarly journals Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Cultivated Soils from Lombardy (Northern Italy): Spatial Distribution, Origin, and Management Implications

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Sacchi ◽  
Stefano Brenna ◽  
Stefania Fornelli Genot ◽  
Alessandra Leoni ◽  
Vanna Maria Sale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Soil Enrichment ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Cultivated Soils

This work aims to quantify the contribution of agricultural practices to diffuse pollution in cultivated soils. Two samples (the first from the top layer and the second from a depth of about 100 cm) were retrieved from about 1000 soil profiles and analyzed for their potentially toxic elements (PTEs) content (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn). In addition, we collected dedicated soil profiles for three specific types of land use and agronomic practice, namely vine-, cereal- and rice-growing areas. Baseline concentrations and distribution maps were produced. Statistical data treatment, coupled with the results of the dedicated soil profiles, enabled the identification of precise pollution sources and processes. In cultivated soils, PTEs contents prove to be generally well below the Italian regulatory limits, with the exception of Cu in vineyard soils, due to the long-lasting use of Cu-based pesticides. South of Milan and in other urban areas, we attribute the top soil enrichment in Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn to industrial activities and urban settlement. Ni sporadically exceeds regulatory standards, but its association with Mn and its depth distribution point to a natural origin, mostly due to the occurrence of serpentine. The project demonstrates that although agriculture, especially in the form of vineyards and of intensive cultivation, certainly contributes to pollution, such contribution is exceeded by that deriving from industry and road traffic.

Anthropogenic impact on behavior of nutrients and potentially toxic elements in the Moskva River water

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Shinkareva ◽  
Oxana Erina ◽  
Maria Tereshina ◽  
Dmitriy Sokolov ◽  
Mikhail Lychagin
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Large Reservoir ◽  
Moskva River

<p>The Moskva River catchment is a complex system consisting of a network of rivers affected by a wide variety of land- and water-use factors that create unique spatial and temporal patterns of their water quality. Major sources of anthropogenic impact on the Moskva River and its tributaries include multiple flow regulation structures on streams, direct pollution from municipal sewage and industrial wastewaters of Moscow megacity and smaller towns, runoff generated in agricultural areas and within multiple landfills located on the watershed, and many more. Only a short upstream section of the Moskva River remains relatively unchanged in terms of water runoff and geochemistry.</p><p>In 2019, we began a pioneering study focusing on collecting detailed field data on geochemistry of water, suspended matter and bottom sediments of the Moskva River and its major tributaries, including concentrations of nutrients, potentially toxic elements (PTEs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). The main purpose of this project is to obtain a holistic picture of material fluxes within the river system combined with an inventory of natural and anthropogenic factors controlling them.</p><p>Our results indicate gradual increase of total dissolved solids, and content of nutrients and some PTEs (i.e., Cu) in water along the course of Moskva River. It can be linked to non-point pollution, as well as drastic changes occurring downstream Moscow and other urban areas caused by direct pollution. Massive increase of chloride, sulfate, sodium, mineral phosphorus, nitrogen, Mo and Sr concentrations in water is observed downstream outlets of Moscow wastewater treatment plants, which is characteristic of insufficiently treated urban sewage. Concentrations of nutrients and PTEs only slightly decrease downstream the city, remaining at levels often exceeding environmental guidelines up to the river’s mouth, whereas increased concentrations of other pollutants, such as TPH, are more closely limited to urban areas and fade more quickly with distance from the source.</p><p>Nutrient pollution of the Moskva River, as well as concentrations of some PTEs (i.e., Sb, Pb), steadily increased during summer low-flow period, when low dilution capacity limits biochemical self-purification. On the other hand, Mn, Co and Zn reached maximum concentrations during the spring flood due to their accumulation in city road dust and subsequent concentrated inflow with snowmelt runoff.</p><p>The Moskva River tributaries that flow within close proximity to the metropolitan area were revealed to have significantly higher pollution levels than the Moskva River itself, indicating stronger anthropogenic stress.</p><p>Balance calculations performed on our database showed that during the flood the Mozhaysk Reservoir – the single large reservoir on the Moskva River – retains huge volumes of major elements and PTE, at times even greater than their subsequent input from urban areas downstream from the dam. It proves crucial role of the reservoir’s retention capacity in the Moskva River’s geochemical balance formation.</p><p>Authors acknowledge Russian Geographical Society (project 28/2019-I), Russian Science Foundation (project 19-77-30004) and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project 19-05-50109) for financial support.</p>

scholarly journals Chemical Fractionation, Environmental, and Human Health Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil of Industrialised Urban Areas in Serbia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9412
Author(s):  
Dragana Pavlović ◽  
Marija Pavlović ◽  
Veljko Perović ◽  
Zorana Mataruga ◽  
Dragan Čakmak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Carcinogenic Risk ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Chemical Fractionation ◽  
Form Analysis

The primary focus of this research was the chemical fractionation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their presence in several industrialised cities in Serbia. Furthermore, their origin, contamination levels, and environmental and human health risks were assessed. The results indicated that the examined soils were characterised by slightly higher Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels than those set by European and national regulations. These elevated Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were caused by intensive traffic and proximity to industry, whereas the higher Ni levels were a result of the specific geological substrate of the soil in the study area. The environmental risk was found to be low and there was no enrichment/contamination of the soil with these elements, except in the case of Pb, for which moderate to significant enrichment was found. Lead also poses a potential non-carcinogenic risk to children through ingestion and requires special attention due to the fact that a significant proportion of this element was present in the tested soil samples in a potentially available form. Analysis of the health risks showed that children are more at risk than adults from contaminants and that ingestion is the riskiest exposure route. The carcinogenic risk was within the acceptable limits.

Major inputs and mobility of potentially toxic elements contamination in urban areas

2012 ◽  
Vol 185 (1) ◽  
pp. 279-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cachada ◽  
A. C. Dias ◽  
P. Pato ◽  
C. Mieiro ◽  
T. Rocha-Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements

scholarly journals Using Fractionation Profile of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils to Investigate Their Accumulation in Tilia sp. Leaves in Urban Areas with Different Pollution Levels

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9784
Author(s):  
Miroslava Mitrović ◽  
Tijana Blanusa ◽  
Marija Pavlović ◽  
Dragana Pavlović ◽  
Olga Kostić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Leaf Tissues ◽  
Elemental Uptake ◽  
Healthy Growth

Optimal uptake of micronutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) and managing the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Sr) in the ranges not detrimental to plant function may be linked to improving plants’ healthy growth and the ability to provide ecosystem services. We investigated concentrations, mobility, and potential availability of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil samples from polluted and non-polluted municipal parks in Reading (UK) and Belgrade (Serbia) and their impact on elemental concentrations in Tilia leaves. We aimed to identify common limiting factors potentially affecting the growth/healthy function of this widely-used tree species. Levels of all elements in soil were below limits established by the directive of European Communities, except for Ni at Belgrade sites. Content of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soluble fraction at all locations was <10%, indicating low mobility; B showed moderate mobility (11.1–20.7%), Mn (6.5–55.6%), and Sr—high (44–76.3%). Principal Component Analysis of Tilia leaf tissues showed a different capacity for uptake/accumulation of PTEs in different locations. Findings indicate the complexity of local edaphic influences on plants’ elemental uptake and the risk of those leading to deficiency of important micronutrients, which may impede trees’ function and thus the ability to optimally provide ecosystem services.

scholarly journals Exploring distribution of potentially toxic elements in soil profiles to assess the geochemical background and contamination extent in soils of a metallurgical and industrial area in Kosovo

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Protano ◽  
Luigi Antonello Di Lella ◽  
Francesco Nannoni
Keyword(s):  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Geochemical Background ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Soil Contaminants

AbstractThis geochemical study explored the distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, U, and Zn, along soil profiles of a metallurgical and industrial area in Kosovo, with the aim of assessing geochemical background and contamination threshold of PTEs in soil, and defining surface and vertical level and extent of soil contamination by PTEs. The geochemical background was assessed by exploratory data analysis of PTE concentrations in soil profiles. The upper limit of geochemical background (contamination threshold) was used as reference value to calculate the single pollution index and establish the PTE contamination level. Cadmium, Pb, Sb, Zn were the primary soil contaminants and As, Cu, Tl the secondary ones. The main sources of soil contaminants were the Zvecan smelter for Pb, Sb, As, Cu, Tl, and the Trepca industrial complex for Cd and Zn. The highest levels of Pb and Sb contamination were found up to depths between 30 and 60 cm in soil profiles within 5 km north and south-east of the Zvecan smelter. Contamination by Pb and Sb decreased with depth and affected the whole thickness of soil profiles closer the smelter. Cadmium and Zn contamination declined with distance from the Trepca industrial complex and decreased with depth, extending down to depths of 40–90 cm and 30–70 cm, respectively. Anomalous natural concentrations of Co, Cr, and Ni were found in soils collected in the northern part of the study area, where the geology consists mainly of ultrabasic and basic magmatic rocks.

scholarly journals Impact of Land Use on Concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements in Urban Soils of Lagos, Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abimbola O Famuyiwa ◽  
Yetunde A Lanre-Iyanda ◽  
Olabode Osifeso
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Industrial Estates ◽  
The Impact

Background. Among soil contaminants, potentially toxic elements (PTE) are of major significance because they are ubiquitous, toxic and persistent. Chronic exposure of humans to these elements has been linked with developmental delay, cancer, atherosclerosis and kidney damage, stomach ailments, respiratory problems, heart disease and cancer. Objectives. The present study aims to investigate current PTE concentrations in urban soils of Lagos, an example of a rapidly urbanizing megacity in a developing country. The variation in PTE (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)) levels across different land use types was examined. Information from this study will be useful in the ranking of contaminated sites, environmental quality management, guidance for remediation, redevelopment of contaminated sites and will provide crucial information for general urban planning decisions. Methods. Five areas spread across four local government areas were selected, representing different socio-economic areas of Lagos (Victoria Island, Lagos mainland, Ikeja, Ifako-Ijaiye and Makoko). Sampling locations within the study areas were comprised of school playgrounds, roadsides, ornamental gardens, open spaces, train stations, industrial estates and dump sites. A total of 126 samples were collected. Results. The overall mean levels of PTE concentrations in this study were comparable to those found in large European cities where main pollution sources include traffic and current or former heavy manufacturing industries. Conclusions. Regulation and legislation on environmental issues, including effective solid waste management strategies and enforcement of emission standards should be emphasized in order to reduce the impact of PTE pollution on the inhabitants of urban areas in developing countries. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests

scholarly journals Influence of Different Types of Land Use on the Contents of Potentially Toxic Elements and De-icing Salts in Roadside Soils and Trees in Urban Areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8985
Author(s):  
Jin-Hee Ju ◽  
Ju-Young Park ◽  
Yong-Han Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Electronic Conductivity ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Roadside Soil ◽  
Roadside Soils ◽  
Green Areas

In order to manage the urban environment and reduce pollution, it is essential to determine potentially toxic elements and de-icing salts in roadside soils and plants, which are major components of green infrastructure. A field study was conducted to elucidate the influence of land use on potentially toxic elements and de-icing salts in roadside soil and trees in urban areas. The effect of land use was determined in commercial, residential, industrial, and green areas of Cheongju city. The roadside soil and plant samples were collected from four different sites along a major roadway in the city. The chemical parameters determined were pH, electronic conductivity, potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Pb, Ni), and de-icing salts (Na, Ca, Mg). The pH, electronic conductivity, potentially toxic elements (except copper), and de-icing salt values were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the land use. On the other hand, the potentially toxic element (except zinc and nickel) levels in roadside tree leaves (Ginkgo biloba) were not affected by the different land use, whereas the de-icing salt levels were significantly different (p < 0.05). The enrichment factor (EF) of potentially toxic elements was found to be lower than that of de-icing salts with the highest values of sodium in green areas and of magnesium in commercial areas. These results provide information on the implications of land use, including the surrounding area of influenced roadside soil and plant chemistry for the urban ecosystem.

scholarly journals Effects of the interaction between an acid solution and pedogenic carbonates: the case of the Buenavista del Cobre Mine, Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-320
Author(s):  
Maria Yazmin Rivera-Uria ◽  
Francisco Martín Romero ◽  
Sergey Sedov ◽  
Daniel Ramos ◽  
Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Solution ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Surface Samples ◽  
Pedogenic Carbonates ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

The main purpose of this work was to study and understand the interaction that occurred between an acid solution spilled from Buenavista del Cobre Mine and the soils located in the Bacanuchi River area. The question put forward in this work was: if the soils of the area were able to cushion the impact of the acid solution?. Two soil profiles were examined: Profile 8A, was located on the riverbank and was affected by the spill, whilst Profile 8B, located on the first terrace of the river valley, remained intact . Both soils profiles were chemically characterized. An additional three surface samples (0-30 cm) were taken for geoavailability tests (RBI, SB2, belonging to Profile 8B, and SB3, belonging to Profile 8A). Two further samples, representing typical unaltered soils of profiles 8A and 8B, were taken for their micromorphological study. The results showed a difference between the two profiles, with profile 8A having more acidic pH, greater electrical conductivity, and higher concentrations of Fe, Pb, Cu and As than profile 8B. The geoavailability test showed that the elements enriched in SB3 were stable and not available to the aqueous phase. The soils of Bacanuchi River contain carbonates, which interacted with the acid solution and stabilized the potentially toxic elements presents in the spilled acid solution.  This interaction with carbonates promoted a new minerals formation such as gypsum and copiapite. So, the release of contaminants from soil to surface and ground waters is improbable, unless the redox conditions change or a new spill occurs releasing the potentially toxic elements (PTE) to the environment. In this work we show the importance of pedogenic carbonates in soils of arid and semi-arid environments; these carbonates represent a natural geochemical barrier, that can prevent the migration of PTEs in mining areas.

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