ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Inorganic and Organic Pollutant Levels in Soil and Vegetation of a Medium-Sized Urban Area
 
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1
Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
 
2
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Czech Republic
 
 
Submission date: 2020-06-30
 
 
Final revision date: 2021-01-07
 
 
Acceptance date: 2021-01-25
 
 
Online publication date: 2021-06-29
 
 
Publication date: 2021-09-22
 
 
Corresponding author
Jiřina Száková   

Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, 16521, Prague, Czech Republic
 
 
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(5):4425-4435
 
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ABSTRACT
The adverse effects of anthropogenic activities have led to increasing inorganic and organic contaminant levels in soil and vegetation in highly industrialized areas and megapolitan regions. In this study, the status of risk elements (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of the medium-sized (100,000 inhabitants) city Hradec Králové (Czech Republic) was assessed. In total, 86 sampling points were established; we collected soil samples as well as the aboveground parts of the plant species dandelion (Taraxacum sect. Ruderalia) and doorweed (Polygonum aviculare), occurring at all sampling points. Elevated values of As (up to 51 mg/kg) and Cd (up to 3.0 mg/kg) were found in soils; the high mobility of Cd in these soils resulted in elevated Cd contents in T. sect. Ruderalia at several hotspots. The element contents, mobility and interrelationships in the soil, however, indicated mainly geogenic sources of these elements. Low PAH contents were found in the soils, suggesting a low environmental risk in this city, which is mainly due to the absence of industrial plants and high traffic density.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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