Factors affecting the distribution of potentially toxic elements in surface soils around an industrialized area of northwestern Greece

Abstract

In order to investigate the factors influencing the distribution of 32 potentially toxic elements in the Ptolemais-Kozani basin, northwestern Greece, 38 soil samples were collected and analyzed. Concentrations of Al, and Zn were determined by ICP-AES and concentrations of As, Bi, Cd, Cs, Mo, Rb, Sb, Th, Tl, and U by ICP-MS. Bivariate analysis, principal component analysis, and geostatistical analysis were employed to investigate the factors influencing the distribution of the elements determined in the study area. The results indicate that the distribution of the majority of elements determined, especially for Cr, Ni, and associated elements, is greatly influenced by the geology and geomorphology of the study area. Principal component analysis has yielded four factors that explain over 77% of the total variance in the data. These factors are as follows: lithophilic elements that are associated with Al silicates minerals of K (factor I: 29.4%), ultramafic rocks (factor II: 20.5%), elements that are coprecipitated with Fe and Mn oxides (factor III: 18.0%), and anthropogenic activities (factor IV: 9.3%). The anthropogenic activities that influence the distribution of several potentially toxic elements (i.e., Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) are agricultural practices and the deposition of fly ash in the vicinity of the local power stations.

Geochemical background of potentially toxic trace elements in soils of the historic copper mining area: a case study from Miedzianka Mt., Holy Cross Mountains, south-central Poland

“…The mobility of Cr in this medium is rather poor due to low solubility of its minerals. However, Cr contents in surface soil are affected by local geology and geomorphology (Petrotou et al 2012). The pH and oxidation state have the highest influence on Cr mobility in soils.…”

A Geochemical Investigation of Soils, Apples and Leaves in Agia Area, Central Greece

“…The most abundant element in soil is Fe, followed by Ca, Mg, Na, K and P. The rather elevated concentrations of Fe and Mg, were expected, as in the study area ophiolitic (ultramafic) rocks, which contain the above mentioned elements in noteworthy amounts, are present (Skordas and Kelepertsis, 2005;Petrotou et al, 2010Petrotou et al, , 2012Skordas et al, 2010Skordas et al, , 2013. A study (Kelepertzis, 2014) regarding agrcultural soils in Argolida, Greece, has reported slightly different average concentrations for Fe, P and K (27100 mg kg -1 , 3000 mg kg -1 and 900 mg kg -1 , respectively).…”

“…One would expect that, since these trees grow on soil enriched in Fe its elevated concentrations would be directly associated with their geogenic origin. Possibly, because Fe is found in resistant minerals is not readily available (Megremi, 2010;Petrotou et al, 2010).…”

“…The content of chemical elements in soils is highly affected and differentiated by the nature of parent materials (Kelepertsis et al, 2001;Skordas and Kelepertsis, 2005;Papastergios et al, 2009Papastergios et al, , 2010Papastergios et al, , 2011Petrotou et al, 2010Petrotou et al, , 2012Skordas et al, 2013). The latter controls, along with other factors (i.e., soil pH, Eh, absorptive power of soil constituents etc.)…”

Mineralogical Composition of Suspended Particles Pm10 in the Ptolemais-Kozani Area, Macedonia, Greece

“…During lignite combustion the mineral matter of lignite undergoes a series of physical and chemical changes. Some minerals contained in the lignite ashes (fly ash, bottom ash, stack-gas ash), are initial constituents of the mined lignite, while some others are formed during the combustion of the lignite or by the soaking of the fly and bottom ashes with water during its transportation by conveyor belt from the Power Plants to the ash disposal areas (e.g., Filippidis et al, , 1996Kassoli-Fournaraki et al, 1992;Kolovos et al, 2002;Kantiranis et al, 2005;Petrotou et al, 2012;Tsirambides and Filippidis, 2012;Nikolaidou, 2014).…”