Spatial variability of metal pollution in sands and sandy soils of playgrounds and parks in the Barcelona metropolitan area: assessing the impact of urban and industrial activities

IF 2.9 4区 环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Adolfo González-Romero, Patricia Escorcia Rico, Andrés Alastuey, Natalia Moreno, Xavier Querol, Patricia Córdoba Sola
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigates the geochemical composition of sands and sandy soils collected from 10 playgrounds and 13 parks across the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (BMA), a region characterised by high population density, extensive industrial activity, and heavy traffic. By examining the variability in metal loads and the deposition of contaminants, the research sheds light on the impact of urban pollution sources on the spatial distribution of harmful elements. The findings reveal that playgrounds tend to exhibit coarser sand textures compared to parks, likely reflecting both the progressive milling of sand and the accumulation of deposited particulate matter (DPM) over time. Several parks exhibited significant enrichment factors (EF) (5 ≤ EF ≤ 20) for a variety of elements, which can be attributed to vehicle wear, while others showed even higher enrichments, particularly related to braking systems. Distinct anomalies in metal concentrations were found in several parks, indicating a diversity of pollution sources, including industrial emissions and port activities. Particularly noteworthy are the elevated Ce/La ratios (1.79–2.95) found in some parks, which point to vehicular catalytic emissions. Additionally, exceptional anomalies in Pb (EF: 62.3–84.1) and Sb (EF: 26.8–44.4) concentrations were identified, most likely due to industrial and port activities near certain parks. Another significant finding of this study is the higher concentrations of traffic-related metals found beneath tree canopies compared to open spaces. This suggests that the presence of vegetation, particularly trees, plays a crucial role in modifying the deposition and distribution of PM in urban green spaces. This research provides critical insights into urban pollution dynamics, particularly the distribution of metals in relation to sand composition, environmental interactions, and the role of urban greenery in mitigating the negative effects of airborne pollutants. By examining both the geochemical impacts of pollution and the physical processes that contribute to contamination in urban environments, this study underscores the importance of thoughtful urban green infrastructure in reducing the environmental and health risks associated with urban pollution.

巴塞罗那大都市区游乐场和公园的沙土中金属污染的空间变异性:评估城市和工业活动的影响
本研究调查了从巴塞罗那大都市区(BMA)的10个游乐场和13个公园收集的沙子和沙质土壤的地球化学成分,该地区的特点是人口密度高,工业活动广泛,交通繁忙。通过考察金属负荷和污染物沉积的变异,揭示城市污染源对有害元素空间分布的影响。研究结果表明,与公园相比,游乐场的沙子质地往往更粗糙,这可能反映了沙子的逐渐研磨和沉积颗粒物(DPM)随时间的积累。一些公园对各种元素表现出显著的富集系数(EF)(5≤EF≤20),这可归因于车辆磨损,而其他公园则表现出更高的富集系数,特别是与制动系统有关。在几个公园发现了明显的金属浓度异常,表明污染源的多样性,包括工业排放和港口活动。特别值得注意的是,在一些公园中发现的Ce/La比值升高(1.79-2.95),这表明汽车的催化排放。此外,Pb (EF: 62.3-84.1)和Sb (EF: 26.8-44.4)浓度异常,很可能是由于某些公园附近的工业和港口活动造成的。这项研究的另一个重要发现是,与开放空间相比,树冠下与交通有关的金属浓度更高。这表明植被,特别是树木的存在,在改变城市绿地中PM的沉积和分布中起着至关重要的作用。这项研究为城市污染动态提供了重要的见解,特别是与沙子组成、环境相互作用以及城市绿化在减轻空气污染物负面影响方面的作用有关的金属分布。通过研究污染的地球化学影响和导致城市环境污染的物理过程,本研究强调了深思熟虑的城市绿色基础设施在减少与城市污染相关的环境和健康风险方面的重要性。
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来源期刊
Air Quality Atmosphere and Health
Air Quality Atmosphere and Health ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES-
CiteScore
8.80
自引率
2.00%
发文量
146
审稿时长
>12 weeks
期刊介绍: Air Quality, Atmosphere, and Health is a multidisciplinary journal which, by its very name, illustrates the broad range of work it publishes and which focuses on atmospheric consequences of human activities and their implications for human and ecological health. It offers research papers, critical literature reviews and commentaries, as well as special issues devoted to topical subjects or themes. International in scope, the journal presents papers that inform and stimulate a global readership, as the topic addressed are global in their import. Consequently, we do not encourage submission of papers involving local data that relate to local problems. Unless they demonstrate wide applicability, these are better submitted to national or regional journals. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health addresses such topics as acid precipitation; airborne particulate matter; air quality monitoring and management; exposure assessment; risk assessment; indoor air quality; atmospheric chemistry; atmospheric modeling and prediction; air pollution climatology; climate change and air quality; air pollution measurement; atmospheric impact assessment; forest-fire emissions; atmospheric science; greenhouse gases; health and ecological effects; clean air technology; regional and global change and satellite measurements. This journal benefits a diverse audience of researchers, public health officials and policy makers addressing problems that call for solutions based in evidence from atmospheric and exposure assessment scientists, epidemiologists, and risk assessors. Publication in the journal affords the opportunity to reach beyond defined disciplinary niches to this broader readership.
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