Signs for secondary buildup of heavy metals in soils at the periphery of Athens International Airport, Greece

Abstract

Emissions from civil airports are similar to those observed in industrial and urban areas. While air pollution and noise levels are regularly monitored and assessed, information on the status of heavy metals in soils close to airport facilities is limited. In this study, we monitored and assessed heavy metal distribution in soils close to Athens International Airport (AIA) in Attica, Greece. Following a grid sampling scenario, topsoil samples were collected from 86 sites at the periphery of AIA and total and available forms of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Ba concentrations were determined in aqua regia and DTPA soil extracts, respectively. Median concentration values for both metal forms are not considered as particularly high. However, 90th percentile concentration values for some metals are high, indicating soil enrichment. Evaluation of enrichment factor (EF) and availability ratio (AR) values and EFs spatial distribution have led to consistent conclusions of secondary and ongoing metal accumulation in the soils of the studied area. Tessier sequential extraction procedure was applied to 10% of the soil samples and the results showed high potential availability of Pb, Mn, Cu, and Ni, further supporting the continuous metal accumulation in the studied soils.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soils Near the Runway at the International Airport in Central Europe

“…The obtained soil pH values detected along the runway revealed alkaline conditions, which may indicate low metal mobility in the analyzed soils. The pH values were similar to those obtained by Massas et al [13], who tested this parameter in the soils in the close proximity to the Athens International Airport in Greece. Figure 2 shows the correlation matrix of the soil PTE contents and other soil properties.…”

Effect of Marginal-Quality Irrigation on Accumulation of some Heavy Metals (Mn, Pb, and Zn) in TypicTorripsamment Soils and Food Crops

“…The AR is an indicator of metal availability and mobility in soils. It quantifies the percentage of the available fraction to the total metal content in the soil as follows [29]:…”

Human health risk exposure and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic element pollution in agricultural soils in the district of Frydek Mistek, Czech Republic: a sample location approach

“…This means of environmental pollution has become a primary ecological concern due to the timeless period of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in nature coupled with the contamination of agricultural soils [2]. Although the more significant part of toxicity has anthropogenic origins, a few contaminants can typically happen in soils as components of weathering of rock deposits, and they can be toxic at high concentrations [3,4]. Furthermore, contamination of the soil periodically cannot be precisely assessed or seen outwardly, rendering it a latent threat.…”