Spatial distribution and source identification of heavy metals in European mountain beech forests soils

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 309; p. 136662
• Main Authors: Štrbac, Snežana, Ranđelović, Dragana, Gajica, Gordana, Hukić, Emira, Stojadinović, Sanja, Veselinović, Gorica, Orlić, Jovana, Tognetti, Roberto, Kašanin-Grubin, Milica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2022
• Subjects: Enrichment factor; Geostatistical analysis; Health risk; Principal component analysis; Source apportionment; Geostatistical analysis; Enrichment factor; Source apportionment; Principal component analysis; Health risk
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136662

The main objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the concentration; (ii) characterize the distribution; (iii) determine the sources apportionment; (iv) estimate environmental and health risks of heavy metals in soil from mountain beech forest. A total of 76 soil samples from 20 pure beech forest stands from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Bulgaria (BG), Check Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SL), and Spain (ES) were collected. The content of major elements was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The content of heavy metals was measured by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Heavy metals had a specific concentration range, which followed in soil samples from depth 0–40 cm the common order (low to high): Hg < Cd < As < Co < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn, and from depth 40–80 cm: Hg < Cd < As < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn. The grouping of the examined parameters according to rock types, soil types, and localities indicated the separation of carbonate rocks from other substrates, luvisol, and rendzina from other soil types, and samples from BA, SL, and IT from other localities. According to sources apportionment As, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are of geogenic origin, while the middle position of Cu and Hg indicates a combined contribution of both sources. Elements Cd and Hg indicated severe to extremely severe enrichment with a mean value of 24.3 and 70.6, respectively. Based on the determined values Ni, Cr, As and Cd do not pose a health risk.
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•Parent material determines the elemental composition in mountain forest soil.•As, Pb, Zn have anthropogenic and Cd, Cr, Co, Ni geogenic origin in forests soils.•Carcinogenic risk of As, Ni and Cr is in the acceptable category.•Human health risk from heavy metals is ingestion > dermal > inhalation.