Evaluation of Agricultural Soil Quality and Associated Human Health Risks Following Plastic Fire Incidents: Insights from a Case Study

Aleksandra Perčin (), Hrvoje Hefer, Željka Zgorelec (), Marija Galić, Danijel Rašić and Ivica Kisić
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Aleksandra Perčin: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb, Svetosimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Hefer: Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food, Vinkovačka Cesta 63c, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Željka Zgorelec: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb, Svetosimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Galić: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb, Svetosimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Danijel Rašić: Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food, Vinkovačka Cesta 63c, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Ivica Kisić: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of General Agronomy, University of Zagreb, Svetosimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-22

Abstract: This study examines the impact of an unintended fire at the Drava International plastic processing facility near Osijek, Croatia, on soil quality and the potential human health risks associated with agricultural soils within a 10 and 20 km radius. Surface soil samples (0–5 cm) were collected from ten locations within 10 km three days after the incident, and eight composite samples were taken from sites 10–20 km away 17 days’ post-event. Additionally, 18 control samples previously collected for soil fertility or quality monitoring were included for comparative analysis. In total, 36 agricultural soil samples were analyzed for pH, organic matter, total phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and trace elements (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb). Eighteen post-fire samples were also analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Ecological risk was assessed using the pollution load index (PLI) and enrichment factor (EF), while human health risk was evaluated through the estimation of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and individual carcinogenic risks (CRi) for As, Cr, Ni, and Pb. Results showed that concentrations of dioxins (TEQ LB and UB), dioxin-like PCBs, and non-dioxin-like PCBs in samples within 10 km were either below detection limits or present in trace amounts (4.0 × 10 −6 mg/kg). PFAS compounds were not detected (<0.0005 mg/kg). The total concentration of non-dioxin-like PCBs ranged from 0.0023 to 0.0047 mg/kg, well below the maximum permissible levels. Post-fire contamination profiles revealed consistently higher PAH concentrations in the 0–10 km zone (mean 0.100 mg/kg) compared to the 10–20 km zone (mean 0.062 mg/kg). Twenty PLI values exceeded the threshold of 1 (range: 1.00–1.26), indicating moderate pollution, while the remaining values (PLI 0.82–0.99) suggested no pollution. EF values indicated minimal to moderate enrichment (EF < 2), supporting the conclusion that metal presence was predominantly geological with limited anthropogenic influence. All ILCR values for adults and children remained below the acceptable threshold of 1 × 10 −4 , indicating low carcinogenic risk under both pre- and post-fire conditions. CRi values followed a consistent decreasing trend across exposure pathways: ingestion > dermal absorption > inhalation.

Keywords: plastic waste fire; open-space combustion; soil contamination; pollution load index (PLI); enrichment factor (EF); incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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