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Comprehensive assessment of heavy elements and evaluation of potential human health risk in the urban environment: a case study from Novi Sad, Serbia

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine seasonal (summer vs. winter) and spatial distribution of the selected heavy elements (HEs) (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb) in soil samples collected from a typical Central European town, Novi Sad, Serbia. The highest Pb concentrations were observed in summer because of intensive ground-flushing, whereas Cu had its highest concentration in winter, which may be attributed to traffic emissions. Source characterization and spatial distribution were carried out using cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), variogram calculation and theoretical model fitting, GIS-based geostatistical methods, and positive matrix factorization (PMF) data processing tools. Environmental impact of HEs found in different functional areas demonstrated that the quantified concentrations of Pb, As, Co, and Cu ranked soil as unpolluted to moderately polluted, while the presence of Co, Ni, and Cr classified urban soil as moderately polluted. Pollution load index (PLI) suggested a significant HEs enrichment while the new modified approach to Nemerow integrated risk index (NIRI) indicated high risk, being extreme for some selected locations. Machine learning classifiers were used for the first time to identify the differences between urban soil and dust samples in situations when simultaneous analysis of both matrices was carried out, as well as for temporal distribution (summer versus winter), based on the obtained concentration of HEs. Variogram calculation suggested that the pattern in spatial variability within the system emerged from the combined action of key structural factors (e.g., the parent soil material, landforms and topography, and climate) and random factors related to human activities. The estimated human health risk for two segments of the population revealed that ingestion is the primary route of exposure to HEs for children and adults.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Funding

The results presented here are obtained within the project no. 114–451-1148/2014–02 supported by the Provincial Secretariat for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Vojvodina, Serbia. The research was financially supported by the Secretariat for higher education and scientific research of the Province of Vojvodina (no. 114–451-2044/2016–03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia

    Biljana D. Škrbić, Maja Buljovčić & Igor Antić

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  1. Biljana D. Škrbić
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  2. Maja Buljovčić
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  3. Igor Antić
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Biljana Škrbić; Methodology:Biljana Škrbić, Maja Buljovčić; Formal analysis and investigation: Maja Buljovčić, Igor Antić; Writing—original draft preparation: Maja Buljovčić; Biljana Škrbić; Writing—review and editing: Biljana Škrbić; Funding acquisition: Maja Buljovčić, Biljana Škrbić; Resources:Maja Buljovčić, Biljana Škrbić, Igor Antić; Supervision:Biljana Škrbić.

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Biljana D. Škrbić.

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Škrbić, B.D., Buljovčić, M. & Antić, I. Comprehensive assessment of heavy elements and evaluation of potential human health risk in the urban environment: a case study from Novi Sad, Serbia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 38551–38566 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18733-x

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