engleski

Urban geochemistry – the importance and vulnerability of topsoil layer in urban areas: case study in the city of Sisak, Croatia

According to the United Nations, in 2018 55 % of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. Quantitative boom of the number of city inhabitants increases environmental risks and the risk to the human health in urban areas. Climate change facilitates risks and could disturb sensitive balance between urban environment and people. Topsoil layer accumulates potentially harmful elements/substances (PHES) in urban areas and can, therefore, be considered a good medium for investigation of potential environmental risks. An urban geochemical study is carried out to determine the concentration and spatial distribution of the PHES in the soil and to assess their risk for the environment and human health. Anthropogenic inputs significantly change the concentration of PHES in urban soils. There are various ways to gathering and preserving anthropogenic PHES in the soil: long-lasting urban development, even from the antique ; among other things, industrial activities, especially uncontrolled industrial development and emission of hazardous elements ; along the roads, from waste waters and dumps. Collected PHES are mainly bound to organic matter, carbonates, clays or Fe and Mn oxyhidroxide. The risk of (re)mobilization of PHES in the environment and potential risk for human health increase with any imbalance in the environment. The impacts of the climate change by the flooding, fluctuation of the level of underground waters, heavy rainfalls, landslides, heating and drying change the mobility of PHES and can cause their (re)mobilization from polluted to unpolluted areas. The elevated mobility of PHES rises, as well as the availability to people and increases the risk for human health.

urban soil, climate change, potentially harmful elements/substances (PHES), Sisak, Croatia

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