Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution Pattern and Environmental Risk in Soils from Carpathian Areas Using a GIS-Based Approach and Pollution Indices

Ana Moldovan (), Ionuț-Cornel Mirea (), Anamaria Iulia Torok, Maria Laura Tîrlă, Erika Andrea Levei and Oana Teodora Moldovan
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Ana Moldovan: INCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ionuț-Cornel Mirea: Department of Geospeleology and Paleontology, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Calea 13 Septembrie, 050711 București, Romania
Anamaria Iulia Torok: INCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Maria Laura Tîrlă: Faculty of Geography, University of București, 010041 București, Romania
Erika Andrea Levei: INCDO-INOE 2000 Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Oana Teodora Moldovan: Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 5 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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

Abstract: Understanding the occurrence and spatial variability of potentially toxic elements in soils is essential for tracing pollution origins, assessing ecological risks, and supporting sustainable land use management. This study investigates the soil pollution with Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Mn, Sr, and Fe, their spatial distribution, and environmental risks in two areas in southwestern Romania—Isverna and Tismana—using a combination of pollution indices and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based analyses. Results indicated predominantly low to moderate pollution across both areas, with localized hotspots of high to extreme pollution, particularly with Ni and Pb, near human settlements. In contrast, Tismana showed more uniform, generally lower pollution levels, suggesting the influence of natural (lithogenic) sources. Spatial distribution maps highlighted these differences, showing more heterogeneous localized hotspots in Isverna, likely linked to anthropogenic activities such as agricultural runoff and improper domestic waste disposal. The integrated use of pollution indices and GIS mapping proved effective in identifying contamination patterns and risk zones, providing valuable insights for environmental monitoring and sustainable management of rural land.

Keywords: soil pollution; pollution indices; spatial distribution; potentially toxic elements (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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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:11:p:2221-:d:1791110

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