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Trace element concentrations in soils along urbanization gradients in the city of Wien, Austria

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Abstract

Urban soil is an important component of urban ecosystems. This study focuses on heavy metal contamination in soils of Wien (Austria) and results are compared to those for a few large European cities. We analysed the elemental contents of 96 samples of topsoil from urban, suburban and rural areas in Wien along a dynamic (floodplain forest) and a stable (oak–hornbeam forest) urbanization gradient. The following elements were quantified using ICP-OES technique: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, P, S and Zn. For heavy metals PI (pollution index) values were used to assess the level of pollution. The PI values indicated high level of pollution by Pb in the suburban and rural area of stable gradient and in the urban area of dynamic gradient; moderate level of pollution was indicated for Cd in the urban area of stable gradient. The level of pollution was moderate for Co in the suburban and rural area of the stable gradient, and for Cu in suburban area of stable gradient, and urban area of dynamic gradient. The pollution level of Zn was moderate in all areas. Urban soils, especially in urban parks and green areas may have a direct influence on human health. Thus, the elemental analysis of soil samples is one of the best ways to study the effects of urbanization. Our results indicated that the heavy metal contamination was higher in Wien than in a few large European cities.

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Acknowledgment

The research was partially supported by the TÉT Research Fund (AT-20/2008) and the OeAD (HU 17/2009). The work is supported by the TÁMOP 4.2.1./B-09/1/KONV-2010-0007 project. The project is implemented through the New Hungary Development Plan, co-financed by the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, PO Box 71, 4010, Hungary

    Edina Simon & Béla Tóthmérész

  2. Department of Conservation Biology, Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Andreas Vidic

  3. Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, PO Box 21, 4010, Hungary

    Mihály Braun & István Fábián

Authors
  1. Edina Simon
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  2. Andreas Vidic
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  3. Mihály Braun
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  4. István Fábián
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  5. Béla Tóthmérész
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Correspondence to Edina Simon.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Simon, E., Vidic, A., Braun, M. et al. Trace element concentrations in soils along urbanization gradients in the city of Wien, Austria. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 917–924 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1091-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1091-x

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