Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface soils of urban parks in Beijing, China

Urban soil is an important component of urban ecosystems. This study focuses on heavy metal contamination in soils of Wien (Austria) and results are compared to those for a few large European cities. We analysed the elemental contents of 96 samples of topsoil from urban, suburban and rural areas in Wien along a dynamic (floodplain forest) and a stable (oak-hornbeam forest) urbanization gradient. The following elements were quantified using ICP-OES technique: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, P, S and Zn. For heavy metals PI (pollution index) values were used to assess the level of pollution. The PI values indicated high level of pollution by Pb in the suburban and rural area of stable gradient and in the urban area of dynamic gradient; moderate level of pollution was indicated for Cd in the urban area of stable gradient. The level of pollution was moderate for Co in the suburban and rural area of the stable gradient, and for Cu in suburban area of stable gradient, and urban area of dynamic gradient. The pollution level of Zn was moderate in all areas. Urban soils, especially in urban parks and green areas may have a direct influence on human health. Thus, the elemental analysis of soil samples is one of the best ways to study the effects of urbanization. Our results indicated that the heavy metal contamination was higher in Wien than in a few large European cities.

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“…It is defined as a ratio of heavy metal concentration and the background concentration of elements (Chen et al 2005;Faiz et al 2009):…”

Section: Assessment Of the Level Of Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the urbanization and industrial growth rate causes the increase of air and soil pollution level (Golia et al 2008). Heavy metals may be sent into the air with these human activities and the metals are deposited into urban soil (Chen et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace element concentrations in soils along urbanization gradients in the city of Wien, Austria

Simon

Vidic

Braun

et al. 2012

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Many indices and calculation methods, such as geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution index (PI), and integrated pollution index (IPI) have been proposed for quantifying the degree of metal enrichment or pollution in soils, sediments (Faiz et al 2009;Chen et al 2005;Sun et al 2010;Wei and Yang 2011;Lu et al 2009;Abanuz 2011).…”

Section: Soil Pollution Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metals pollution in the soils of suburban areas in big cities: a case study

Taghipour

Mosaferi

Armanfar³

et al. 2013

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Soil pollution in agricultural areas surrounding big cities is a major environmental problem. Tabriz is the largest city in the northwest of Iran and the fourth largest city in the country. Soil samples were taken from 46 sites in the suburbs of the Tabriz city, and separate samples were taken from control site and analyzed. The results indicated that the mean pH value of the soil samples was 9.29, while the mean EC value was 354.33 ls/cm and the amount of TOC and TOM was 0.99 and 1.7 %, respectively. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn in the soil were determined to be 1. 61, 10.56, 101.25, 87.40, 38.73, and 98.27 mg/kg, respectively (dry weight). The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Zn), with the exception of Ni, were higher than the concentrations of the same heavy metals at the control site. Despite these elevated concentrations, the concentrations of heavy metals were lower than the toxicity threshold limit of agricultural soils. The values of the pollution index revealed that the metal pollution level was Pb [ Cr [ Cu [ Zn [ Cd [ Ni, and the mean value of the integrated pollution index was determined to be 1.81, indicating moderate pollution. Nevertheless, there were some sites that were severely polluted by Cr (maximum values of 1,364 mg/kg). It was concluded that city probably has affected the surrounding agricultural area. Application of wastewater (municipal and industrial) as irrigation water, using of sludge as soil fertilizer, and atmospheric perceptions have been considered as main reasons of increased heavy metals concentrations found in the studied area.

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“…ex. : in Spain (Madrid et al, 2002), Italy (Imperato et al 2003), China (Chen et al 2005), the UK (Johnson et al 2011) and many others. In terms of urban soils, it should be mentioned that it is really important to focus scientific research on soils located in playgrounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban soil contamination with lead and cadmium in the playgrounds located near busy streets in Cracow (South Poland)

Aleksander-Kwaterczak

Rajca²

2015

geol

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Abstract:The pollution of urban soil with heavy metals caused by traffic activity is increasingly becoming a great threat to human health and environmental quality. This paper presents results of research of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) distribution in land on playgrounds situated near busy streets in Cracow (Poland). Samples of sand and soil were collected from the most top layer (0-10 cm). Concentrations of examined metals are: Pb from 6.80 to 54.04 mg/kg and Cd from 1.60 to 2.61 mg/kg, respectively. The highest concentrations were found in sampling points near the busiest roads, and are particularly visible in the case of lead concentration in soil samples. For sand samples, metal concentrations are much lower. Although the results have not determined a high degree of soil's contamination, they indicate the problem of the children's exposure to toxic metals. Urban soil should be monitored particularly in such special places as playgrounds.

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Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface soils of urban parks in Beijing, China

Cited by 701 publications

References 34 publications

Trace element concentrations in soils along urbanization gradients in the city of Wien, Austria

Trace element concentrations in soils along urbanization gradients in the city of Wien, Austria

Heavy metals pollution in the soils of suburban areas in big cities: a case study

Urban soil contamination with lead and cadmium in the playgrounds located near busy streets in Cracow (South Poland)

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