The geochemical baseline concentrations for potentially toxic elements (PHEs) in an urban environment

The assessment of geochemical baseline concentrations for PHEs were conducted for puddle sediment (PS) in Ekaterinburg and topsoil in the small arctic cities: Noyabrsk, Novy Urengoy and Tarko Sale in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous... [ view full abstract ]

The assessment of geochemical baseline concentrations for PHEs were conducted for puddle sediment (PS) in Ekaterinburg and topsoil in the small arctic cities: Noyabrsk, Novy Urengoy and Tarko Sale in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Russia). The PS is the specific type of geochemical traps of the recent anthropogenic sediments at the urban territory. The PS and topsoil concentrate surface geochemical fluxes over the landscape area and over time from the forming of artificial landscape. The PS and topsoil reflect local geochemical conditions of the territory. The PS sampling was conducted in residential areas in Ekaterinburg. The PS samples were taken from the puddles from the upper 5 cm layer (sample mass approx.1.5 kg of dry weight). The 370 topsoil samples were collected in Noyabrsk, 103 in Tarko Sale and 308 in Novy Urengoy at the period of 2006-2008. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, As, Cr, Ni, Co, Hg, Pb, Mn, Fe, Al, petrochemicals and phenol were determined in topsoil and PS samples. The geochemical baseline values for elements were calculated on the basis of statistical analysis of the sample population, normalization procedure and analysis of cumulative distribution frequency curves. Baseline values were also assessed for soil data obtained from the regular soil survey in Ekaterinburg. The obtained geochemical baselineу values for PHEs can be used as reference in the assessment of pollution degree of the territories of the cities.