Fernando Michels, Joana Ribeiro, Maria Helena Henriques
{"title":"The problematic of soil contamination by industries in a protected area in Portugal.","authors":"Fernando Michels, Joana Ribeiro, Maria Helena Henriques","doi":"10.1007/s10653-025-02445-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the environmental legacy surrounding abandoned industrial sites, once powered by fossil fuels and operated in times of less stringent environmental regulations, is crucial today. This issue is especially pertinent in regions that have since become protected areas. Cabo Mondego, recognized internationally for its geological diversity, designated as a National Monument of Portugal, and included in the Atlantic Geopark project, represents such a region due to its history of potentially degrading activities associated with coal mining and an industrial complex focused on cement and lime production. To ensure the sustainable use of this protected area, it is essential to assess soil health. In this study, fifty soil samples were collected from areas bordering the decommissioned industrial complex and coal mining remnants. The research detected contaminants, their geochemical associations, and potential sources. The evaluation included comparisons with reference values, assessment of the contamination severity, multivariate data analysis, and spatial distribution analysis. Three primary anthropogenic sources of soil contamination were identified: (1) atmospheric emissions from the industrial complex, primarily linked to As and Se contamination, with additional samples showing contamination by Ni, V, and Cr; (2) localized coal mining waste disposal, associated with As, Mo, and Se contamination; and (3) isolated fuel contamination, indicated by elevated Pb levels. Additionally, the study suggests that geogenic sources contribute to the elevated As and U levels in soils with specific geological characteristics. This characterization of potential toxic contaminants in Cabo Mondego enhances the understanding of the region's vulnerabilities and highlights the importance of its protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"47 5","pages":"160"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11982105/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-025-02445-5","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Understanding the environmental legacy surrounding abandoned industrial sites, once powered by fossil fuels and operated in times of less stringent environmental regulations, is crucial today. This issue is especially pertinent in regions that have since become protected areas. Cabo Mondego, recognized internationally for its geological diversity, designated as a National Monument of Portugal, and included in the Atlantic Geopark project, represents such a region due to its history of potentially degrading activities associated with coal mining and an industrial complex focused on cement and lime production. To ensure the sustainable use of this protected area, it is essential to assess soil health. In this study, fifty soil samples were collected from areas bordering the decommissioned industrial complex and coal mining remnants. The research detected contaminants, their geochemical associations, and potential sources. The evaluation included comparisons with reference values, assessment of the contamination severity, multivariate data analysis, and spatial distribution analysis. Three primary anthropogenic sources of soil contamination were identified: (1) atmospheric emissions from the industrial complex, primarily linked to As and Se contamination, with additional samples showing contamination by Ni, V, and Cr; (2) localized coal mining waste disposal, associated with As, Mo, and Se contamination; and (3) isolated fuel contamination, indicated by elevated Pb levels. Additionally, the study suggests that geogenic sources contribute to the elevated As and U levels in soils with specific geological characteristics. This characterization of potential toxic contaminants in Cabo Mondego enhances the understanding of the region's vulnerabilities and highlights the importance of its protection.
期刊介绍：
Environmental Geochemistry and Health publishes original research papers and review papers across the broad field of environmental geochemistry. Environmental geochemistry and health establishes and explains links between the natural or disturbed chemical composition of the earth’s surface and the health of plants, animals and people.
Beneficial elements regulate or promote enzymatic and hormonal activity whereas other elements may be toxic. Bedrock geochemistry controls the composition of soil and hence that of water and vegetation. Environmental issues, such as pollution, arising from the extraction and use of mineral resources, are discussed. The effects of contaminants introduced into the earth’s geochemical systems are examined. Geochemical surveys of soil, water and plants show how major and trace elements are distributed geographically. Associated epidemiological studies reveal the possibility of causal links between the natural or disturbed geochemical environment and disease. Experimental research illuminates the nature or consequences of natural or disturbed geochemical processes.
The journal particularly welcomes novel research linking environmental geochemistry and health issues on such topics as: heavy metals (including mercury), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and mixed chemicals emitted through human activities, such as uncontrolled recycling of electronic-waste; waste recycling; surface-atmospheric interaction processes (natural and anthropogenic emissions, vertical transport, deposition, and physical-chemical interaction) of gases and aerosols; phytoremediation/restoration of contaminated sites; food contamination and safety; environmental effects of medicines; effects and toxicity of mixed pollutants; speciation of heavy metals/metalloids; effects of mining; disturbed geochemistry from human behavior, natural or man-made hazards; particle and nanoparticle toxicology; risk and the vulnerability of populations, etc.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
