scholarly journals Modeling and Assessing the Spatial and Vertical Distributions of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil and How the Concentrations Differ

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Samuel Kudjo Ahado ◽  
Chukwudi Nwaogu ◽  
Vincent Yaw Oppong Sarkodie ◽  
Luboš Borůvka
Keyword(s):  
Ordinary Kriging ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Pollution Assessment ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Kriging Interpolation ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Vertical Distributions

A healthy soil is a healthy ecosystem because humans, animals, plants, and water highly depend upon it. Soil pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is a serious concern for humankind. The study is aimed at (i) assessing the concentrations of PTEs in soils under a long-term heavily industrialized region for coal and textiles, (ii) modeling and mapping the spatial and vertical distributions of PTEs using a GIS-based ordinary kriging technique, and (iii) identifying the possible sources of these PTEs in the Jizerské Mountains (Jizera Mts.) using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. Four hundred and forty-two (442) soil samples were analyzed by applying the aqua regia method. To assess the PTE contents, the level of pollution, and the distribution pattern in soil, the contamination factor (CF) and the pollution load index load (PLI) were applied. ArcGIS-based ordinary kriging interpolation was used for the spatial analysis of PTEs. The results of the analysis revealed that the variation in the coefficient (CV) of PTEs in the organic soil was highest in Cr (96.36%), followed by Cu (54.94%) and Pb (49.40%). On the other hand, the mineral soil had Cu (96.88%), Cr (66.70%), and Pb (64.48%) as the highest in CV. The PTEs in both the organic soil and the mineral soil revealed a high heterogeneous variability. Though the study area lies within the “Black Triangle”, which is a historic industrial site in Central Europe, this result did not show a substantial influence of the contamination of PTEs in the area. In spite of the rate of pollution in this area being very low based on the findings, there may be a need for intermittent assessment of the soil. This helps to curtail any excessive accumulation and escalation in future. The results may serve as baseline information for pollution assessment. It might support policy-developers in sustainable farming and forestry for the health of an ecosystem towards food security, forest safety, as well as animal and human welfare.

scholarly journals Quantification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Degraded Mining Soils and Medicinal Plants: A Case Study of Indus Kohistan Region Northern Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waseem sardar ◽  
Aziz Ur Rahman ◽  
javed nawab ◽  
Sardar Khan ◽  
Abid Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Translocation Factor ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Pollution Indices ◽  
Mining Wastes ◽  
Mining Soil ◽  
Open Dumping

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.

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

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.

scholarly journals Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements in Mosses Collected in the Republic of Moldova

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Inga Zinicovscaia ◽  
Constantin Hramco ◽  
Omari Chaligava ◽  
Nikita Yushin ◽  
Dmitrii Grozdov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Republic Of Moldova ◽  
Mass Fractions ◽  
The Republic

For the second time, the moss biomonitoring technique was applied to evaluate the deposition of potentially toxic elements in the Republic of Moldova. The study was performed in the framework of the International Cooperative Program on Effects of Air Pollution on Natural Vegetation and Crops. Moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. samples were collected in May 2020 from 41 sampling sites distributed over the entire territory of the country. The mass fractions of 35 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Se, Rb, Sr, Sb, Cs, Ba, Cd, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Hf, Ta, Th, Pb, and U) were determined using neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Comparing with 2015/2016 moss survey data, significant differences in the mass fractions of Cr, As, Se, Br, Sr, Sb, Cd, Pb, and Cu were found. Main air pollution sources (natural processes, transport, industry, agriculture, mining) were identified and characterized using factor and correlation analyses. GIS maps were built to point out the zones with the highest element mass fractions and to relate this to the known sources of contamination. Contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, pollution load index, and potential ecological risk index were calculated to assess the air pollution levels in the country. According to the calculated values, Moldova can be characterized as unpolluted to moderately polluted, with low potential ecological risk related to the degree of atmospheric deposition of potentially toxic elements. The cities of Chisinau and Balti were determined to experience particular environmental stress and are considered moderately polluted.

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

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.

scholarly journals Contamination and Potential Ecological Risk Factors of Potentially Toxic Elements Present in the Soil of Shooting Range: Comparison with the Global Soils

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Saba Shoukat ◽  
Shahla Nazneen ◽  
Sardar Khan ◽  
Urooj Zafar
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Shooting Range ◽  
Shooting Range Soil ◽  
Ecological Risk Factors ◽  
Very High

This study was carried out to determine potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination and their potential ecological risk factors in shooting range soil. For this purpose soil samples were collected from different locations (left side, right side, shooting point, middle, and stop-butt) from the shooting range of Frontier Corps Training Centre (FCTC) present in Warsak, Peshawar. The soil samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and potentially toxic elements including Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The strong acids digested extracts were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of selected PTEs. The concentration of Pb was found to be maximum at stop-butt i.e. 2049 mg/kg and exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) critical value of 400 mg/kg, while its concentrations at left, right, shooting point and middle were 14.0 mg/kg, 18.8 mg/kg, 47.4 mg/kg, and 18.2 mg/kg, respectively and exceeded the background level of normal soils which is 10 mg/kg for Pb. This study revealed that the shooting range soil was highly contaminated with Pb, and very high contamination factor and potential ecological risk for Pb was observed at stop-butt, very high contamination factor and potential ecological risk for Cd, while moderate contamination factor for Zn was observed at all locations of the shooting range. In Pakistan, the environmental perspective of shooting range soils is overlooked and there is a need to take steps to avoid such contamination of soils with Pb and other PTEs that can enter into food chains and can also leach to contaminate the aquifer. Replacement of vegetation of shooting range with PTE tolerant species, addition of soil conditioners and uncontaminated soil would reduce the mobility of these contaminants into aerial portions of plants and protect the groundwater contamination.

scholarly journals Sequential Extraction and Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in River Sediments

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 874
Author(s):  
Dithobolong L. Matabane ◽  
Taddese W. Godeto ◽  
Richard M. Mampa ◽  
Abayneh A. Ambushe
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Sequential Extraction ◽  
Extraction Method ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
River Sediments ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Sequential Extraction Method

In this study, the sequential extraction method was applied to extract selected potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn) in river sediments collected from the Blood River situated in Seshego area, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study aimed to assess a possible trend of mobilisation of these elements from sediment to water. The accuracy of the sequential extraction method was confirmed by analysing sediment-certified reference material, and quantitative percentage recoveries ranging from 86 to 119%, 81 to 111% and 77 to 119% were achieved for exchangeable, reducible and oxidisable fractions, respectively. The potential risk of the PTEs in sediments was evaluated. The calculated values of contamination factor (CF) as well as risk assessment code (RAC) for Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb revealed the mobility of these elements. The PTEs in river sediments are at a high toxicity-risk level and could therefore cause a threat to organisms dwelling in sediments and humans via consumption of crops irrigated with the polluted river water.

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