ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Inorganic and Organic Pollutant Levels in Soil
and Vegetation of a Medium-Sized
Urban Area
More details
Hide details
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
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
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.