Variations in reference values utilized for the evaluation of complex pollution indices of potentially toxic elements: a critical review

Abstract In recent years, a series of environmental and ecological problems have occurred due to enhanced anthropogenic disturbances for precious minerals mining. Traditional medicines have become an important pillar in national homeopathic treatment system especially in mountainous environment of developing countries. The current study investigates the level of potentially toxic elements ( PTEs ) contamination in degraded mining soil and medicinal plants along the mafic-ultramafic rocks in the Kohistan region. Soil samples and medicinal plant species were collected from the degraded mining area and were screened for PTEs (Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, and Cd) using atomic absorption spectrometry. Various pollution indices were used for PTEs such as contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI) and translocation factor (TF) in degraded mining soil and medicinal plants. The mean concentration of PTEs found in soil were in order of Mn>Ni>Cr >Pb>Zn>Cd, while in medicinal plants were Pb>Cr>Mn>Ni>Zn>Cd. Highest bioaccumulation was observed in Ajuga bracteosa (Cr=349 mg kg –1 ), Phlomis bracteosa (Pb=335 mg kg –1 ), Chenopodium ambrosioides (Mn = 304.3 mg kg –1 ), Isatis costata (Ni=169 mg kg –1 ), Ajuga parviflora (Zn = 38.4 mg kg –1 ) and Salvia moorcoftiana (Cd=11 mg kg –1 ). Furthermore, the concentrations of PTEs were significantly higher ( p <0.001) in degraded mining soil and medicinal plants than the reference site, which may be attributed to the mining and open dumping of mining wastes. The present study revealed that chromite mining and open dumping of mining wastes can cause serious environmental problem in the study area. Furthermore, medicinal plants grown in degraded mining soil may pose risk to the local inhabitants as most of the people consume these plants for various health problems.

Download Full-text

Level of Contamination Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soils of Volos City (Central Greece)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13042029 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 2029

Author(s):

Evangelia E. Golia ◽

Sotiria G. Papadimou ◽

Christos Cavalaris ◽

Nikolaos G. Tsiropoulos

Keyword(s):

Urban Soils ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Heavy Traffic ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Pollution Indices ◽

Contamination Assessment ◽

Average Value ◽

Accumulation Index ◽

Urban Complex

A three-year study, designed to record the level of potentially toxic elements within the urban complex in the city of Volos, Greece, was carried out between 2018 and 2020. For the needs of the aforementioned study, 62 surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected each year (i.e., 186 samples in total) from an urban area of 3.65 km2, and the average value of pseudo-total metal concentration was measured. Soil pollution indices, such as the contamination factor (CF) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), were estimated regarding each of the metals of interest. The respective thematic maps were constructed, and the spatial variability of the contamination degree was displayed. Higher values of the CF and Igeo were obtained near the heavy traffic roads and beside the railway station, the bus stations, and the commercial port. The maps based on the pollution indices, along with the database that was constructed using the appropriate mathematical tools of geostatistical analysis, may be a useful tool for monitoring, prediction, and continuous verification of contamination in the urban soils of Volos city.

Download Full-text

Wood-based biochar for the removal of potentially toxic elements in water and wastewater: a critical review

International Materials Reviews ◽

10.1080/09506608.2018.1473096 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 216-247 ◽

Cited By ~ 98

Author(s):

Sabry M. Shaheen ◽

Nabeel Khan Niazi ◽

Noha E. E. Hassan ◽

Irshad Bibi ◽

Hailong Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critical Review ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Water And Wastewater

Download Full-text

Potentially toxic elements in toys and children’s jewelry: A critical review of recent advances in legislation and in scientific research

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114627 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 264 ◽

pp. 114627

Author(s):

Mert Guney ◽

Symbat Kismelyeva ◽

Zhanel Akimzhanova ◽

Kamila Beisova

Keyword(s):

Critical Review ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Recent Advances

Download Full-text

Quality reference values and background concentrations of potentially toxic elements in soils from the Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Journal of Geochemical Exploration ◽

10.1016/j.gexplo.2018.04.012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 190 ◽

pp. 453-463 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Antonio Rodrigues Fernandes ◽

Edna Santos de Souza ◽

Anderson Martins de Souza Braz ◽

Sannah Mohamad Birani ◽

Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú Alleoni

Keyword(s):

Reference Values ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Background Concentrations

Download Full-text

Background concentrations and quality reference values for potentially toxic elements in soils of Piauí state, Brazil

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment ◽

10.1007/s10661-020-08656-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 192 (11) ◽

Author(s):

Cácio Luiz Boechat ◽

Lizandra de Sousa Luz Duarte ◽

Antonny Francisco Sampaio de Sena ◽

Clistenes Williams Araujo do Nascimento ◽

Ygor Jacques Agra Bezerra da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reference Values ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Background Concentrations

Download Full-text

Background concentrations and quality reference values for some potentially toxic elements in soils of São Paulo State, Brazil

Journal of Environmental Management ◽

10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.048 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 221 ◽

pp. 10-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira ◽

Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior ◽

Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú Alleoni ◽

Zhenli He ◽

Marcio Roberto Soares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reference Values ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

São Paulo ◽

Background Concentrations ◽

Paulo State ◽

São Paulo State

Download Full-text

Appraisal of Pollution and Source Apportionment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Soils Collected around the Industrial Area

10.21203/rs.3.rs-214369/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Falwinder Verma ◽

Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal ◽

Vinod Kumar ◽

Rakesh Kumar ◽

Jaswinder Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxic Elements ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Industrial Area ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Percentage Change ◽

Soil Types ◽

Pollution Indices ◽

Management Approaches ◽

Different Soils

Abstract It is imperative to understand the pollution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in different soils in order to determine the sustainable management approaches for soils. Potentially toxic elements (Fe, Mn, As, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cn, Co and Cd), and pH and organic carbon were determined in agricultural, non-agricultural and industrial soils of Indian, Punjab. The findings of PTEs indicated that industrial soils recorded highest concentration of PTEs followed by non-agricultural and agricultural soils. The percentage change recorded from agricultural to non-agricultural soils for PTEs were 3.19% for Fe, 25.3% for Mn, 63.8% for Cu, 13.5% for Cn, 49.8% for Pb, 79.6% for Ni, 35.8% for Co and 32% for Cd. From non-agricultural to industrial soils the percentage change observed for PTEs were 89% for Zn, 2.03% for Fe, 21.9% for Mn, 68.2% Cu, 9.2% for Cn, 35.8% for Pb, 18.4% for Co, 30.4% for Cd and 43.4% for As. The results of contamination factor, enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, pollution and modified pollution indices indicated that Cd and As showed severe contamination in all studied soil types. Ecological risk assessment results revealed that Cd exhibited very risk in different soil types. The outcomes of this study will aid in forming approaches to decline the perils allied with PTEs in soils, and produce guidelines to save the environs from long term accrual of PTEs.

Download Full-text