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We are pleased to announce the latest article by Dr hab. Andrzej Plak, Prof. UMCS and Dr. Małgorzata Telecka (Department of Geology, Soil Science, and Geoinformation at UMCS), which has been published in the journal Journal of Soils and Sediments:
Plak A., Telecka M., Charzyński P., Hanaka A., 2024. Evaluation of Hazardous Element Accumulation in Urban Soils of Cracow, Lublin, and Torun (Poland): Pollution and Ecological Risk Indices. Journal of Soils and Sediments. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-024-03864-0.
The aim of the study described in the publication was to investigate how urban soil transformation due to diverse land use affects pollution levels and ecological risks in cities such as Kraków, Lublin, and Toruń. The results indicate statistically significant differences in the concentrations of analyzed elements in these soils. The highest pollution and ecological risk were noted in Kraków, particularly in industrial areas, where the concentrations of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and copper were significantly higher than in the other cities. Lublin exhibited the lowest ecological risk, with only 32% of the surveyed areas classified as polluted.
The use of indices such as Igeo, PLI, CR, and ERi allowed for precise determination of contamination levels and potential health risks. For example, the highest Igeo indices for cadmium and antimony were found in Kraków, which is associated with the presence of metallurgical industry. The study results provide valuable data that can assist in developing strategies to prevent soil degradation in urban areas.
A novel aspect of this research is the application of indices such as PLI (Pollution Load Index) to assess the pollution load, which helps in better understanding the impact of anthropogenic pressure on urban soils. These findings highlight the need for protective measures, especially in high-exposure areas such as industrial zones and roadside areas.
Publication list of Institute staff
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