Distinguishing Geogenic Load and Anthropogenic Contribution to Soil Contamination in Mineralised Mountain Landscape of Ore Mountains (Czech Republic) Using Cumulative Distribution Functions

Michal Hošek (), Petra Pavlíková, Matěj Šoltýs, Štěpánka Tůmová and Tomáš Matys Grygar
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Michal Hošek: Faculty of Environment, Jana Evangelisty Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Petra Pavlíková: Faculty of Environment, Jana Evangelisty Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Matěj Šoltýs: Faculty of Environment, Jana Evangelisty Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Štěpánka Tůmová: Faculty of Environment, Jana Evangelisty Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
Tomáš Matys Grygar: Faculty of Environment, Jana Evangelisty Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-21

Abstract: In ore regions impacted by mining and metal smelting emissions, distinguishing between geogenic anomalies and anthropogenic contamination poses a significant challenge. In a study from two areas with different mining histories in the Ore Mountains, Czech Republic, we demonstrate that sampling of topsoils and subsoils respecting local geology and correct soil data treatment respecting soil textural variability effects are indispensable to the correct construction and interpretation of geochemical maps and identification of anthropogenic contamination by As, Cu, Pb, and Zn. The list of analysed elements must include both potentially toxic and lithogenic elements, otherwise natural controls of soil composition cannot be deciphered. By using empirical cumulative distribution functions, we found that local backgrounds for As/Fe and Pb/Ti are naturally elevated (5.7 to 9.8 times and 2.1 to 2.7 times higher, respectively) compared to the global averages. We constructed geochemical maps with topsoil minus subsoil concentrations to show the main directions of spreading anthropogenic contamination. The anthropogenic diffuse contamination contribution was calculated and expressed as an enrichment relative to the local background (16% and 12% for As/Fe and 17% and 14% for Pb/Ti, respectively). This corresponds to topsoil enrichment by ca. 15 and 14 mg kg −1 for As and ca. 35 and 42 mg kg −1 for Pb in the two study areas. The obtained estimates were comparable to the results from the local peat archives. The approach we used is efficient in deciphering natural and anthropogenic controls of PTEs in geochemically complicated areas.

Keywords: geochemical mapping; topsoils; geogenic anomalies; ore region; diffuse contamination; empirical cumulative distribution function; potential toxic elements; soil contamination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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