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

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 184; no. 1; pp. 15 - 32
• Main Authors: Cachada, Anabela, Pereira, Maria Eduarda, Ferreira da Silva, Eduardo, Duarte, Armando Costa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-01-2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Anthropogenic factors; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Chemical plants; Chromium; Cities; Coasts; Contaminants; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental quality; Health hazards; Industrial development; Industrial wastes; Industry; Land use; Lead; Lead (metal); Metals, Heavy - chemistry; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nickel; Particle size; PCB; Pollutants; Polyallylamine hydrochloride; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - chemistry; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - toxicity; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Portugal; Soil (material); Soil - chemistry; Soil contaminants; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soil pollution; Soil quality; Statistical analysis; Studies; Toxic; Toxicity; Toxicology; Urban agriculture; Urban areas; Portugal; Organic pollutants; Agricultural soils; Chemical plant; Multivariate statistics; Potential toxic elements; Urban soils
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-011-1943-8

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.