Status of heavy metals in agricultural soils as affected by different patterns of land use

This study was conducted to determine status of heavy metals in agricultural soils under different patterns of land use. A total of 38, 40 and 45 soil samples for bare vegetable field, greenhouse vegetable field, and grain crop field were respectively taken from surface layer (0–20 cm) from selected experimental areas away from suburbs of ten counties (or districts or cities) in four provinces or municipalities of Huabei plain in north China. Information of crop production history, including varieties, rotation systems and fertilizer use, at the corresponding sampling sites was surveyed. Soil total Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As and Hg were measured. The results showed that the contents of total Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, and Hg in the soil samples, especially soil total Cu and Zn contents, were higher in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field than that in the grain crop field. Long-term use of excessive chemical fertilizers and organic manures in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field contributed to the accumulation of Cu, Zn, and other heavy metals in the soils. The contents of total Cu, Zn, and other heavy metals in soils increased with increasing vegetable production history of the research areas. In comparison with the grain crop field, the comprehensive pollution indices of the seven soil heavy metals and the single-factor pollution indices of soil Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Hg based on the second criterion of Environmental Quality Standard for Soils were significantly higher in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field. Soils from the greenhouse vegetable field were slightly contaminated according to the comprehensive pollution index, and soils from the bare vegetable field and the grain crop field were at the warning heavy metal pollution level. The soils were contaminated with Cd according to the single-factor pollution index. The Cd pollution was relatively more serious in the bare vegetable field and the greenhouse vegetable field than that in the grain crop field. The soils selected with different land use patterns were not contaminated with Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, As and Hg.     

Heavy metal pollution in surface soils of Pearl River Delta,China

Heavy metal pollution is an increasing environmental problem in Chinese regions undergoing rapid economic and industrial development, such as the Pearl River Delta (PRD), southern China. We determined heavy metal concentrations in surface soils from the PRD. The soils were polluted with heavy metals, as defined by the Chinese soil quality standard grade II criteria. The degree of pollution decreased in the order Cd?>?Cu?>?Ni?>?Zn?>?As?>?Cr?>?Hg?>?Pb. The degree of heavy metal pollution by land use decreased in the order waste treatment plants (WP)?>?urban land (UL)?>?manufacturing industries (MI)?>?agricultural land (AL)?>?woodland (WL)?>?water sources (WS). Pollution with some of the metals, including Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn, was attributed to the recent rapid development of the electronics and electroplating industries. Cd, Hg, and Pb (especially Cd) pose high potential ecological risks in all of the zones studied. The soils posing significantly high and high potential ecological risks from Cd covered 73.3 % of UL, 50 % of MI and WP land, and 48.5 % of AL. The potential ecological risks from heavy metals by land use decreased in the order UL?>?MI?>?AL?>?WP?>?WL?>?WS. The control of Cd, Hg, and Pb should be prioritized in the PRD, and emissions in wastewater, residue, and gas discharges from the electronics and electroplating industry should be decreased urgently. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides should also be decreased.     

菏泽市不同类型村庄土壤主要无机元素的监测与评价

为揭示土壤主要无机元素积累成因,制定科学防控措施,以菏泽市养殖型、蔬菜型、粮食型、工业型4种类型村庄为研究对象,分析了11个典型村庄8种土壤主要无机元素含量、分布特征及污染风险。结果表明,土壤镉、汞、砷、铅、铬、铜、镍、锌的质量分数分别为0. 01～0. 53、0. 002～0. 145、5. 51～15. 20、17. 6～75. 8、14. 5～69. 9、13. 3～33. 8、18. 8～46. 9、41. 5～96. 4 mg/kg。蔬菜型村庄镉、汞、铅元素含量最高;粮食型村庄铬、铜、镍含量最高;养殖型村庄砷、锌元素含量最高;工业型村庄铬、铜、镍元素含量较高,其余元素的含量都较低。各主要无机元素平均值均未超过农用地土壤污染筛选值,但除汞外,均超过了黄河故道区域土壤环境背景值,尤以镉最显著。     

某铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属污染潜在生态风险评价

为能够定量评价铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属污染程度及其潜在生态危害性,采用Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对土壤中重金属进行综合污染评价。结果表明,铀尾矿库周围部分农田土壤中重金属Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Hg、Zn含量存在积累和超标情况,尤以Cd的污染最严重,Ni、As次之;Pb、Cr含量能够满足标准限值要求。潜在生态风险评价结果显示,铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属潜在生态风险较高,主要潜在生态风险因子为Cd,其次是Hg、As,Cr、Pb、Ni、Cu、Zn并不构成潜在生态风险。铀尾矿库周围农田土壤中较高水平的Cd在构成环境污染的同时,也构成了较严重的生态危害,应加强对重金属Cd、Hg的生态风险防治。     

徽县铅锌冶炼区土壤中重金属的空间分布特征

采集甘肃省徽县铅锌冶炼区域土壤样品,分析该区域内重金属污染分布规律及污染特征。结果表明,表层土壤中Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn的平均含量分别为214、3.12、25.8、79.5 mg/kg。研究区域内重金属的分布特征显示,污染浓度由冶炼厂中心向四周递减。纵向0~30 cm范围内重金属含量逐渐降低,大部分重金属污染物集中在土壤表层的0~20 cm区域,其中0~2 cm区域内含量较高,Pb和Cd的最高含量分别达到3 877、24.8 mg/kg,与国家土壤环境质量二级标准(p H 6.5~7.5)(GB 15618—1995)相比,分别超标13、82倍,属于重度污染。重金属元素的分布与土壤有机碳含量及p H相关。冶炼厂周围的重金属污染应引起有关部门的高度重视,严格控制污染源,尽快采取措施以防止污染范围进一步扩大。     

Potentially toxic elements in urban soils: source apportionment and contamination assessment

Soils play a vital role in the quality of the urban environment and the health of its residents. City soils and street dusts accumulate various contaminants and particularly potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from a variety of human activities. This study investigates the current condition of elemental concentration in the urban soils of Hamedan, the largest and the fastest-growing city in western Iran. Thirty-four composite soil samples were collected from 0 to 10 cm topsoil of various land uses in Hamedan city and were analyzed for total concentration of 63 elements by ICP-MS. The possible sources of elemental loadings were verified using multivariate statistical methods (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) and geochemical indices. The spatial variability of the main PTEs was mapped using geographic information system (GIS) technique. The results revealed a concentration for As, Co, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, and V in the soil samples comparable to the background values as well as a range of associations among these elements in a single component suggesting geogenic sources related to geological and pedogenic processes, while the soils mostly presented a moderate to considerable enrichment/contamination of Cd, Zn, Pb, and Sb and moderate enrichment/contamination of Cu, Zn, and Mo. It was found that anthropogenic factors, vehicular traffic in particular, control the concentration of a spectrum of elements that are typical of human activities, i.e., Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Zn. Lead and Sb were both the most enriched elements in soils with no correlation with land use highlighting general urban emissions over time and the impact of transport networks directly on soil quality. The highest concentrations of As were recorded in the southern part of the city reflecting the influence of metamorphic rocks. The effect of the geological substrate on the Co and Ni contents was confirmed by their maximum concentrations in the city’s marginal areas. However, high spatial variability of urban elements’ contents displayed the contribution of various human activities. In particular, the increased concentration of Cd, Sb, and Pb was found to be consistent with the areas where vehicular traffic is heaviest.     

Survey and evaluation of contaminants in earthworms and in soils derived from dredged material at confined disposal facilities in the Great Lakes Region

Soils derived from dredged material were collected, together with earthworms from nine confined disposal facilities located in the Great Lakes Region. These samples were analyzed for 18 elements, 11 organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The concentrations detected in earthworms were evaluated in terms of their potential hazard to wildlife, which for the sake of the evaluation were assumed to prey entirely either on earthworms or on other soil invertebrates having similar concentrations. The soil concentrations (dry wt.) of the contaminants of greatest concern were <1.9 to 32 ppm Cd, <0.053 to 0.94 ppm Hg, 4.6 to 550 ppm Pb, and <0.1 to 1.0 ppm PCBs. The concentrations in earthworms (dry wt., ingested soil included) were as high as 91 ppm Cd, 1.6 ppm Hg, 200 ppm Pb, and 1.8 ppm PCBs. Based on laboratory toxicity studies of relatively sensitive species, and on concentration factors calculated from the earthworm and soil data, we estimated that lethal or serious sublethal effects on wildlife might be expected at concentrations of 10 ppm Cd, 3 ppm Hg, 670 ppm Pb, and 1.7 ppm PCBs in alkaline surface soils derived from dredged material. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in earthworms were well below those in soil.     

Variability of total and available copper concentrations in relation to land use and soil properties in Yangtze River Delta of China

The effects of land use and soil properties on total and available Cu concentrations in soils were investigated in this study. A total of 276 surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected from seven land uses: industrial area, woodland, vegetable field, dry land, paddy field, tea garden and orchard. The total and available (DTPA extractable) Cu concentrations, pH, organic matter, and total nitrogen contents, and cation exchange capacity were measured for each sample. The correlation and ANOVA analyses showed that land use significantly affected total and available Cu concentrations, and the available ratio of soil Cu (available Cu concentration/total Cu concentration). On total Cu concentration, total nitrogen had significant influence in dry land and paddy field, and CEC in garden land; on available Cu concentration, the four measured soil properties showed significant influence only in paddy field; on the available ratio of Cu, pH had significant effect in paddy field and woodland, and CEC in industrial area. Moreover, the relationship between available Cu concentration and soil properties was constructed in different land uses. Spatial analysis of grain Cu using indicator Kriging showed that most of the study areas were in low risk for arable activities, and 7.94% of the study area and 5.10% of the arable land were in high risk probability.     

Heavy metal contamination in water, soil, and vegetables of the industrial areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Fe, and Ni have been estimated in soils and vegetables grown in and around an industrial area of Bangladesh. The order of metal contents was found to be Fe > Cu > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cd in contaminated irrigation water, and a similar pattern Fe > Zn > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cu > Cd was also observed in arable soils. Metal levels observed in different sources were compared with WHO, SEPA, and established permissible levels reported by different authors. Mean concentration of Cu, Fe, and Cd in irrigation water and Cd content in soil were much above the recommended level. Accumulation of the heavy metals in vegetables studied was lower than the recommended maximum tolerable levels proposed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (1999), with the exception of Cd which exhibited elevated content. Uptake and translocation pattern of metal from soil to edible parts of vegetables were quite distinguished for almost all the elements examined.     

Sources of potentially toxic elements and organic pollutants in an urban area subjected to an industrial impact

Urban and industrial development has caused a major impact on environmental soil quality. This work assesses the extent and severity of contamination in a small urban area subjected to an industrial impact and identifies the major anthropogenic inputs. Twenty-six soil samples were collected from agricultural and urban sites, and concentrations of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn), PAHs and PCBs, were determined. In spite of the low median concentrations observed, some sites represent a potential hazard for human health and ecosystems. Concentrations of contaminants were higher than those found in a nearby city, indicating that the study area is affected by the surrounding industry. The use of multivariate statistical analyses allowed for the identification of the main factors controlling the variability of potentially toxic elements and organic pollutants in the soils. The presence of Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni was associated with geogenic inputs, and Cu, Pb, Zn, As, PAHs and PCBs were associated with anthropogenic inputs. Industry and traffic were the most important anthropogenic sources. Soil characteristics were identified as important factors controlling the spatial variability of elements, both from recognised natural and anthropogenic origin. Differences between land uses were observed, which may be attributed to both management practices and proximity to sources.     

Pollution of intensively managed greenhouse soils by nutrients and heavy metals in the Yellow River Irrigation Region,Northwest China

The present study aimed to assess the potential ecological risk of heavy metals and nutrient accumulation in polytunnel greenhouse soils in the Yellow River irrigation region (YRIR), Northwest China, and to identify the potential sources of these heavy metals using principal component analysis. Contents of available nitrogen (AN), phosphorus (AP), and potassium (AK) in the surface polytunnel greenhouse soils (0–20 cm) varied from 13.42 to 486.78, from 39.10 to 566.97, and from 21.64 to 1,156.40 mg kg^?1, respectively, as well as AP, soil organic matter (SOM) and AK contents tended to increase significantly at the 0–20- and 20–40-cm soil layers. Heavy metal accumulations occurred in the polytunnel greenhouse soils as compared to arable soils, especially at a depth of 20 cm where Cd, Zn and Cu contents were significantly higher than arable soil. Cd and As were found to be the two main polluting elements in the greenhouse soils because their contents exceeded the thresholds established for greenhouse vegetable production HJ333-2006 in China and the background of Gansu province. It has been shown that Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn at the 0–20-cm soil layer were derived mainly from agricultural production activities, whereas contents of Cr and Ni at the same soil layer were determined by ‘natural’ factors and As originated from natural sources, deposition and irrigation water.     

典型涉污企业周边土壤重金属污染特征及潜在生态风险评价

分析和评价典型涉污企业周边土壤环境质量,对于加强企业用地环境风险管控,实施土壤重金属污染精准防控,进一步保障农产品质量安全具有重要意义。以18类典型涉污企业周边土壤为研究对象,对475家企业周边的2 017个监测样点进行土壤重金属Cd、As、Pb、Hg、Cr、Cu、Zn和Ni元素含量测定,并采用主成分分析法、Hakanson 潜在生态风险指数法进行分析及评价。结果表明:典型涉污企业周边土壤重金属污染以Cd、Pb和As元素为主,各元素含量超过土壤污染风险筛选值的样品比例为9.82%~31.0%,超过土壤污染风险管控值的样品比例为4.46%~13.1%,其次是Zn、Cu、Hg和Ni,Cr无明显污染;主要污染元素Cd、Pb、As、Zn和Cu来自相同污染源且主要分布在有色金属矿采选业(B9)、黑色金属冶炼和压延加工业(C31)、有色金属冶炼和压延加工业(C32)、生态保护和环境治理业(N77)等行业企业周边;黑色金属冶炼和压延加工业(C31)、有色金属矿采选业(B9)、有色金属冶炼和压延加工业(C32)等行业企业周边土壤重金属潜在生态风险等级较高,中等风险及以上比例分别为76.0%、53.0%和54.1%。可见,典型涉污企业周边土壤重金属存在一定程度的污染,尤其是有色金属矿采选业(B9)等采矿业以及黑色金属冶炼和压延加工(C31)等制造业等,污染程度高,潜在生态风险大,需要加强监测和管控。     

湖北省重点区域及周边表层土壤重金属污染现状及评价

对湖北省内9类不同重点区域及周边表层土壤环境质量进行检测,测定重金属镉、汞、砷、铅、铬、铜、镍、锌含量水平,采用内梅罗污染指数法和Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对检测结果进行评价。结果表明:9类不同重点区域及周边土壤环境质量整体良好,未受重金属污染的土壤监测点位比例为68.2%~92.6%,轻度污染的点位比例为5.8%~20.4%,中度污染为0.0%~8.6%,重度污染为0.0%~9.1%;污染企业周边、油田采矿区周边、固废处置场地周边、工业遗留遗弃场地及周边4类重点区域受重金属污染相对较严重,影响其土壤环境质量的重金属主要是镉、砷、铜、铅;9类不同重点区域周边土壤环境质量的潜在生态风险等级以轻微、中度为主,对应的监测点位比例分别为36.4%~80.5%、18.1%~47.7%,潜在生态风险等级为强度、很强、极强的监测点位比例总和为1.4%~15.9%,主要分布在受重金属污染严重的监测区域。     

长沙市某集中式饮用水水源地周边土壤重金属污染特征和风险评价

以长沙某河库兼用型饮用水水源地一、二级保护区土壤为研究对象,于2018年8月采用网格布点法在一级和二级保护区分别布设3个和7个采样点,在水源地历史采样区布设5个采样点,探究土壤中Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni、Hg、As的含量分布及污染水平。结果表明：土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn的含量均值分别为46.56、4.90、81.87、46.64、0.19、30.11、75.11、237.93 mg/kg。重金属元素含量均值超过农用地污染风险筛选值的样品占比排序为Cd （86.7%）>Zn （60%）>As （53.3%）>Cu （6.7%）=Pb （6.7%）。土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn的单因子污染指数分别为1.55、16.34、0.41、0.47、0.08、0.30、0.63、0.95,主要为Cd、As污染。研究区土壤重金属综合污染指数为11.71,属重污染等级。水源地一级保护区、二级保护区、历史采样区2018年、历史采样区2014年土壤重金属综合污染指数分别为20.41、14.94、1.98、1.17。后期应加强对该饮用水水源地土壤中Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn、As的污染控制和治理。     

Toxic metals and organochlorine pesticides residue in single herbal drugs used in important ayurvedic formulation – ‘Dashmoola’

Herbal formulations are getting popularity throughout the world and commercialized extensively for various medicinal properties. WHO has emphasized the need for quality assurance of herbal products, including testing of heavy metals and pesticides residues. 'Dashmoola', a popular herbal formulation, with immunomodulator and febrifugal properties, consists of ten single root drugs. In view of WHO guidelines, single herbal drugs used in 'Dashmoola', were collected from different places of India for testing heavy metals and persistent pesticides residue. Although use of roots in 'Dashmoola' is prescribed in original ayurvedic literature but now many pharmacies use stem in place of roots. Therefore, in the present study both roots and stems were selected for estimation of six heavy metals namely arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). Apart from these, the organochlorine pesticides residue viz. different metabolites of DDT, DDE, isomers of HCH and alpha-endosulfan were checked in total 40 samples of single crude drugs. Heavy metals except Hg, were present in most of the samples. In few samples Pb and Cd concentration were beyond the WHO permissible limits. Although alpha-HCH and gamma-HCH were present in almost all the samples, but other pesticides were not detected in these samples. DDT and DDE were found only in two samples.     

Pollution in the urban soils of Lianyungang,China, evaluated using a pollution index,mobility of heavy metals,and enzymatic activities

Soil samples from 16 urban sites in Lianyungang, China were collected and analyzed. A pollution index was used to assess the potential ecological risk of heavy metals and a sequential extraction procedure was used to evaluate the relative distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As in exchangeable, carbonate, Fe/Mn oxide, organic/sulfide, and residual fractions. The mobility of heavy metals and urease (URE) activity, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and invertase (INV) activity of soils was determined. The results showed that the average concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As in Lianyungang soils were much higher than those in the coastal city soil background values of Jiangsu and China. Among the five studied regions (utilities, commercial, industrial, tourism, and roadside), the industrial region had the highest metal concentrations demonstrating that land use had a significant impact on the accumulation of heavy metals in Lianyungang soils. Compared to the other metals, Cd showed the highest ecological risk. According to chemical partitioning, Cu was associated with the organic/sulfides and Pb and Zn were mainly in the carbonate and the Fe/Mn oxide phase. The greatest amounts of Cd were found in exchangeable and carbonate fractions, while Cr and As were mainly in the residual fraction. Cd had the highest mobility of all metals, and the order of mobility (highest to lowest) of heavy metals in Lianyungang soils was Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > As > Cr. Soil urease activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and invertase activity varied considerably in different pollution degree sites. Soil enzyme activities had the lowest levels in roadside and industrial regions. Across all the soil data in the five regions, the total Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As level was negatively correlated with urease activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and invertase activity, but the relationship was not significant. In the industrial region, alkaline phosphatase activity had significant negative correlations with total Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd, and heavy metal fractions. This showed that alkaline phosphatase activity was sensitive to heavy metals in heavily contaminated regions, whereas urease and invertase were less affected. The combination of the various methods may offer a powerful analytical technique in the study of heavy metal pollution in street soil.     

天津近郊农田土壤重金属污染特征及潜在生态风险评价

以天津近郊西青区主要农产品生产基地农田表层土壤(0～20cm)作为调查对象,分析了土壤中重金属As、Hg、Zn、Pb、Cu、Cr和Cd的含量,通过数据统计分析,各项重金属平均含量均低于《土壤环境质量标准》(GB 15618—1995)二级标准,但高于天津土壤背景值和全国土壤背景值,Cd、Cu、Hg在个别点位出现超标现象。多数点位土壤内梅罗综合污染指数处于清洁水平。潜在生态风险评价表明,各点位土壤重金属潜在生态风险指数(RI)为12.96～104.49,均处于轻微生态风险水平。     

Foliar concentrations of volunteer willows growing on polluted sediment-derived sites versus sites with baseline contamination levels

Many alluvial soils along navigable waterways are affected by disposal of dredged sediments or overbank sedimentation and contain metal concentrations that are elevated compared to baseline levels. Uptake patterns for metals and other elements by several volunteer Salix species growing on these sites were determined during a growing season in field plots and compared with the same species growing on soils with baseline contamination levels. For Cd and Zn, foliar concentrations were clearly higher on dredged sediment landfills. Uptake patterns differed significantly between species. A high uptake of Mn and low uptake of Cu, K and S in S. cinerea was attributed to wetland soil chemistry. Site effects on metal uptake were evaluated in more detail for Salix cinerea and S. alba growing on different sediment-derived sites under field conditions. Foliar Cd concentrations were higher in S. cinerea than in S. alba. This appeared to be a genetic feature not influenced by soil chemical properties, as it was observed both on clean sites and polluted sediment-derived sites. For S. cinerea, soil chemistry was reflected in foliar concentrations, while foliar Cd concentrations and bioavailability were found to be independent of the thickness of the polluted horizon. Dredged sediment landfills and freshwater tidal marshes with comparable Cd soil pollution had significantly different foliar Cd concentrations.     

Spatial patterns of heavy metals in soil under different geological structures and land uses for assessing metal enrichments

One hundred and thirty composite soil samples were collected from Hamedan county, Iran to characterize the spatial distribution and trace the sources of heavy metals including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, and Fe. The multivariate gap statistical analysis was used; for interrelation of spatial patterns of pollution, the disjunctive kriging and geoenrichment factor (EF_G) techniques were applied. Heavy metals and soil properties were grouped using agglomerative hierarchical clustering and gap statistic. Principal component analysis was used for identification of the source of metals in a set of data. Geostatistics was used for the geospatial data processing. Based on the comparison between the original data and background values of the ten metals, the disjunctive kriging and EF_G techniques were used to quantify their geospatial patterns and assess the contamination levels of the heavy metals. The spatial distribution map combined with the statistical analysis showed that the main source of Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb, and V in group A land use (agriculture, rocky, and urban) was geogenic; the origin of As, Cd, and Cu was industrial and agricultural activities (anthropogenic sources). In group B land use (rangeland and orchards), the origin of metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, and V) was mainly controlled by natural factors and As, Cd, Cu, and Pb had been added by organic factors. In group C land use (water), the origin of most heavy metals is natural without anthropogenic sources. The Cd and As pollution was relatively more serious in different land use. The EF_G technique used confirmed the anthropogenic influence of heavy metal pollution. All metals showed concentrations substantially higher than their background values, suggesting anthropogenic pollution.     

Distribution of heavy elements in urban and rural surface soils: the Novi Sad city and the surrounding settlements, Serbia

Concentrations of ten heavy elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), as well as the pH values, organic matter contents, and electrical conductivities were measured in the surface soil samples collected from 21 sites of urban areas in the city of Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia, its suburban settlement and the nearby villages. Range of the heavy element concentrations was from 0.16 mg/kg (for Hg) to 18,994 mg/kg (for Fe). Significantly higher Hg and Mn concentrations were observed in subgroups with rural and market garden samples in comparison to the subgroups with urban and grassland samples, respectively, while the contents of Pb found in the grasslands subgroup were significantly higher than in the subgroup with market garden soils. Only one sample of urban soil exceeded the maximum permissible value for Zn set by the relevant Serbian legislation. According to the Dutch soil quality standard, the Cd and Co concentrations in majority of the examined soils were higher than the target values for unpolluted soil. The content of Hg was above the target value in 52% of the samples, most of them belonging to the subgroup of market garden soils. The results for the Novi Sad city area were compared to the relevant data available for other cities in the Western Balkan Countries. Principal component analysis of data revealed seven outlying samples, while the rest of the analyzed samples were grouped together indicating similar heavy element patterns most probably due to mixed emission sources.