Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Trace Elements in Soils of Urban Areas

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Urban soils are an essential element of the city environment. However, studies on urban soils are scattered in terms of geographical distribution, sampling pattern, analytical dataset, etc. One of the major issues arising from the studies on this ecosystem is the diffusion of its contamination. In cities, in fact, the proximity to humans may cause a serious danger for citizens. In the present study, results from the literature about trace elements in urban soils are presented to compare methodologies and results and to offer a basis for the harmonization of investigation approaches and establishment of remediation thresholds. A total of 153 studies on the urban ecosystem published in the last 10 years were collected and data on trace elements in soils of 94 world cities were compared and discussed. Data highlights the discrepancies among different studies (sampling strategies, analytical procedures) and the extreme variability of urban soils. Most cities are contaminated by one or more trace elements, revealing the environmental relevance of the urban soil system. While Pb is still one of the major concerns in many locations, new contaminants are on the rise and would deserve more attention from the researchers. While in fact some contaminants are almost ubiquitous in world cities and could be used as tracers for urban contamination, some traffic-related elements such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, whose reactivity and toxicity is still unknown, are becoming of concern. Collation of literature data highlights the need for the harmonization of sampling, analytical, and rendering procedures for regulatory purposes and provides a useful dataset for environmental scientists dealing with the urban ecosystem and for city planners. A sampling design adapted to local urban patterns, a prescribed sampling depth, and a minimum set of elements that deserve to be measured could be the core of a common methodology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahams, P. W. (2002). Soils: Their implications to human health. Science of the Total Environment, 291, 1–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adriano, D. C. (2001). Trace elements in terrestrial environments: Biogeochemistry, bioavailability, and risks of metals (2nd ed.). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajmone-Marsan, F., Biasioli, M., Kralj, T., Grčman, H., Davidson, C. M., Hursthouse, A. S., et al. (2007). Metals in particle-size fractions of the soils of five European cities. Environmental Pollution, 152, 73–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aksoy, A., Hale, W. H. G., & Dixon, J. M. (1999). Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.), Medic. as a biomonitor of heavy metals. Science of the Total Environment, 226, 177–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Chalabi, A. S., & Hawker, D. (2000). Distribution of vehicular lead in roadside soils of major roads of Brisbane, Australia. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 118, 299–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alemayehu, T. (2006). Heavy metal concentration in the urban environment of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Soil and Sediment Contamination, 15, 591–602.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alexandrovskaya, E. I., & Alexandrovskiy, A. L. (2000). History of the cultural layer in Moscow and accumulation of anthropogenic substances in it. Catena, 41, 249–259.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Khashman, O. A. (2007). Determination of metal accumulation in deposited street dusts in Amman, Jordan. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 29, 1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alloway, B. J. (1995). Heavy metals in soils. UK: Chapman & Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelone, M., Masi, U., & Cremisini, C. (2002). Platinum levels in natural and urban soils from Rome and Latium (Italy): Significance for pollution by automobile catalytic converter. Science of the Total Environment, 293, 47–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Awofolu, O. R. (2005). A survey of trace metals in vegetation, soil and lower animal along some selected major roads in metropolitan city of Lagos. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 105, 431–447.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banat, K. M., Howari, F. M., & Al-Hamad, A. A. (2005). Heavy metals in urban soils of central Jordan: Should we worry about their environmental risks? Environmental Resources, 97, 258–273.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergbäck, B., Johansson, K., & Mohlander, U. (2001). Urban metal flows—A case study of Stockholm. Review and conclusions. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Focus, 1, 3–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertram, M., Graedel, T. E., Rechberger, H., & Spatari, S. (2002). The contemporary European copper cycle: Waste management subsystem. Ecological Economics, 42, 43–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biasioli, M., & Ajmone-Marsan, F. (2007). Organic and inorganic diffuse contamination in urban soils: The case of Torino (Italy). Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 9, 862–868.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biasioli, M., Barberis, R., & Ajmone-Marsan, F. (2006). The influence of a large city on some soil properties and metals content. Science of the Total Environment, 356, 154–164.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Biasioli, M., Grčman, H., Kralj, T., Madrid, F., Díaz-Barrientos, E., & Ajmone-Marsan, F. (2007). Potentially toxic elements contamination in urban soils: A comparison of three European cities. Journal of Environmental Quality, 36, 70–79.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Birke, M., & Rauch, U. (2000). Urban geochemistry: Investigations in the Berlin metropolitan area. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 22, 223–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bityukova, L., Shogenova, A., & Birke, M. (2000). Urban geochemistry: A study of elements distribution in the soils of Tallin (Estonia). Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 22, 173–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bloemen, M. L., Markert, B., & Lieth, H. (1995). The distribution of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in topsoils of Osnabrück in relation to land use. Science of the Total Environment, 166, 137–148.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bretzel, F., & Calderisi, M. (2006). Metal contamination in urban soils of coastal Tuscany (Italy). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 118, 319–335.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. W., Gonzales, C., Hooper, M. J., Bayat, A. C., Fornerette, A. M., McBride, T. J., et al. (2008). Soil lead (Pb) in residential transects through Lubbock, Texas: A preliminary assessment. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 30, 541–547.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cal-Prieto, M. J., Carlosena, A., Andrade, J. M., Martinez, M. L., Muniategui, S., López-Mahía, P., et al. (2001). Antimony as tracer of the anthropogenic influence on soils and estuarine sediments. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 119, 248–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee, A., & Banerjee, R. N. (1999). Determination of lead and other metals in a residential area of greater Calcutta. Science of the Total Environment, 227, 175–185.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, T. B., Zheng, Y. M., Lei, M., Huang, Z. C., Wu, H. T., Chen, H., et al. (2005). Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface soils of urban parks in Beijing, China. Chemosphere, 60, 542–551.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chirenje, T., Ma, L. Q., Szulczewski, M., Littell, R., Portier, K. M., & Zillioux, E. (2003). Arsenic distribution in Florida urban soils: Comparison between Gainesville and Miami. Journal of Environmental Quality, 32, 109–119.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chirenje, T., Ma, L. Q., Reeves, M., & Szulczewski, M. (2004). Lead distribution in near-surface soils of two Florida cities: Gainesville and Miami. Geoderma, 119, 113–120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chon, H. T., Ahn, J. S., & Jung, M. C. (1998). Seasonal variations and chemical forms of heavy metals in soils and dusts from the satellite cities of Seoul, Korea. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 20, 77–86.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chronopoulos, J., Haidouti, C., Chronopoulou-Sereli, A., & Massas, I. (1997). Variations in plant and soil lead and cadmium content in urban parks in Athens, Greece. Science of the Total Environment, 196, 91–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cicchella, D., De Vivo, B., & Lima, A. (2003). Palladium and platinum concentration in soils from the Napoli metropolitan area, Italy: Possible effects of catalytic exhausts. Science of the Total Environment, 308, 121–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cinti, D., Angelone, M., Masi, U., & Cremisini, C. (2002). Platinum levels in natural and urban soils from Rome and Latium (Italy): Significance for pollution by automobile catalytic converter. Science of the Total Environment, 293, 47–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, H. F., Brabander, D. J., & Erdil, R. M. (2006). Sources, sinks and exposure pathways of lead in urban garden soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35, 2066–2074.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dagan, R., Dubey, B., Bitton, G., & Townsend, T. (2007). Aquatic toxicity of leachates generated from electronic devices. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 53, 168–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, C. M., Urquhart, G. J., Ajmone-Marsan, F., Biasioli, M., da Costa Duarte, A., Díaz-Barrientos, E., et al. (2006). Fractionation of potentially toxic elements in urban soils from five European cities by means of a harmonised sequential extraction procedure. Analytica Chimica Acta, 565, 63–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Carlo, E. H., & Anthony, S. S. (2002). Spatial and temporal variability of trace element concentrations in an urban subtropical watershed, Honolulu, Hawaii. Applied Geochemistry, 17, 475–492.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Hollander, A. E. M., & Staatsen, B. A. M. (2003). Health, environment and quality of life: An epidemiological perspective on urban development. Landscape and Urban Planning, 65, 53–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Kimpe, C. R., & Morel, J. L. (2000). Urban soil management: A growing concern. Soil Science, 165, 31–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Miguel, E., Jiménez de Grado, M., Llamas, J. F., Martín-Dorado, A., & Mazadiego, L. F. (1998). The overlooked contribution of compost application to the trace element load in the urban soil of Madrid (Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 215, 113–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Miguel, E., Iribarren, I., Chacón, E., Ordóñez, A., & Charlesworth, S. (2007). Risk-based evaluation of the exposure of children to trace elements in playgrounds in Madrid (Spain). Chemosphere, 66, 505–513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Diawara, M. M., Litt, J. S., Unis, D., Alfonso, N., Martinez, L., Crock, J. G., et al. (2006). Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in surface soils, Pueblo, Colorado: Implications for population health risk. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 28, 297–315.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Douay, F., Pruvot, C., Roussel, H., Ciesielski, H., Fourrier, H., Proix, N., et al. (2008). Contamination of urban soils in an area of Northern France polluted by dust emissions of two smelters. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 188, 247–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drakonakis, K., Rostkowski, K., Rauch, J., Graedel, T. E., & Gordon, R. B. (2007). Metal capital sustaining a North American city: Iron and copper in New Haven, CT. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 49, 406–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Khalil, H., Schwartz, C., Elhamiani, O., Kubiniok, J., Morel, J. L., & Boularbah, A. (2008). Contribution of technic materials to the mobile fraction of metals in urban soils in Marrakech (Morocco). Journal of Soils and Sediments, 8, 17–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elless, M. P., Bray, C. A., & Blaylock, M. J. (2007). Chemical behavior of residential lead in urban yards in the United States. Environmental Pollution, 148, 291–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ely, J. C., Neal, C. R., Kulpa, C. F., Schneegurt, M. A., Seidler, J. A., & Jain, J. C. (2001). Implications of platinum-group element accumulation along US roads from catalytic-converter attrition. Environmental Science and Technology, 35, 3816–3822.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Environment Agency. (2002). The contaminated land exposure assessment (CLEA) model: Technical basis and algorithms. Bristol: DEFRA.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2006). Thematic strategy for soil protection. COM(2006)231 final, 22 September 2006. Brussels, Belgium.

  • European Environment Agency. (2006). Urban sprawl in Europe. The ignored challenge. EEA Report, October 2006 Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Fang, F., Wang, Q., & Li, J. (2004). Urban environmental mercury in Changchun, a metropolitan city in North-eastern China: Source, cycle and fate. Science of the Total Environment, 330, 159–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Figueiredo, A. M. G., Enzweiler, J., Camargo, S. P., Sigolo, J. B., Gumiero, F. C., Pavese, A. C., et al. (2009). Metal contamination in urban park soils of Sao Paulo. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 280, 419–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Finster, M. E., Gray, K. A., & Binns, H. J. (2004). Lead levels of edibles grown in contaminated residential soils: A field survey. Science of the Total Environment, 320, 245–257.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsche, J., & Meisel, T. (2004). Determination of anthropogenic input of Ru, Rh, Pd, Re, Os, Ir and Pt in soils along Austrian motorways by isotope dilution ICP-MS. Science of the Total Environment, 325, 145–154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel, M. C., Williamson, D. G., Brooks, S., Zhang, H., & Lindberg, S. (2005). Spatial variability of mercury emissions from soils in a southeastern US urban environment. Environmental Geology, 48, 955–964.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gbadegesin, A., & Olabode, M. A. (2000). Soil properties in the metropolitan region of Ibadan, Nigeria: Implications for the management of the urban environment of developing countries. The Environmentalist, 20, 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guvenç, N., Alagha, O., & Tuncel, G. (2003). Investigation of soil multi-element composition in Antalya, Turkey. Environment International, 29, 631–640.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Higgs, F. J., Mielke, H. W., & Brisco, M. (1999). Soil lead at elementary public schools: Comparison between school properties and residential neighbourhoods of New Orleans. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 21, 27–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imperato, M., Adamo, P., Naimo, D., Arienzo, M., Stanzione, D., & Violante, P. (2003). Spatial distribution of heavy metals in urban soils of Naples city (Italy). Environmental Pollution, 124, 247–256.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPIECA—International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association. (2003). Getting the lead out. Downstream strategies and resources (p. 37). London: IPIECA—International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, M. T., Sampson, J., & Prichard, H. M. (2007). Platinum and palladium variations through the urban environment: Evidence from 11 sample types from Sheffield, UK. Science of the Total Environment, 385, 117–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Järup, L. (2003). Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin, 68, 167–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C. C., & Ander, E. L. (2008). Urban geochemical mapping studies: How and why we do them. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 30, 511–530.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, D. L., & Bretsch, J. K. (2002). Soil lead and children's blood lead levels in Syracuse, NY, USA. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 24, 375–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kakulu, S. E. (2003). Trace metal concentration in roadside surface soil and tree back: A measurement of local atmospheric pollution in Abuja Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 89, 233–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamavisdar, A., Khanwalkar, S. R., & Patel, R. (2005). Analytical studies on lead pollution in roadside soil samples of Raipur and Bhilai, Chhattisgarh State, India. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 36, 2209–2218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, J., & Thornton, I. (1996). Urban geochemistry: A study of the influence of anthropogenic activity on the heavy metal content of soils in traditionally industrial and non-industrial areas of Britain. Applied Geochemistry, 11, 363–370.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kot, F. S., & Matyushkina, L. A. (2002). Distribution of mercury in chemical fractions of contaminated urban soils of Middle Amur, Russia. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 4, 803–808.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. S. L., Li, X., Shi, W., Cheung, S. C. N., & Thornton, I. (2006). Metal contamination in urban, suburban, and country park soils of Hong Kong: A study based on GIS and multivariate statistics. Science of the Total Environment, 356, 45–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., & Huang, C. (2007). Environment impact of heavy metals on urban soil in the vicinity of industrial area of Baoji city, P.R. China. Environmental Geology, 52, 1631–1637.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Poon, C. S., & Liu, P. S. (2001). Heavy metal contamination of urban soil and street dusts in Hong Kong. Applied Geochemistry, 16, 1361–1368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Z., Harsbo, K., Malin, A., & Ulf, Q. (1998). The source and fate of Pb in contaminated soils at the urban area of Falun in central Sweden. Science of the Total Environment, 209, 47–58.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, J. D., Ogunseitan, O. A., Shapiro, A. A., & Saphores, J. D. M. (2007). Leaching assessments of hazardous materials in cellular telephones. Environmental Science and Technology, 41, 2572–2578.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Linde, M., Bengtsson, H., & Oborn, I. (2001). Concentrations and pools of heavy metals in urban soils in Stockholm, Sweden. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 1, 83–101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung, K., Selinus, O., & Otabbong, E. (2006). Metals in soils of children's urban environments in the small northern European city of Uppsala. Science of the Total Environment, 366, 749–759.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loredo, J., Ordóñez, A., Charlesworth, S., & De Miguel, E. (2003). Influence of industry on the geochemical urban environment of Mieres (Spain) and associated health risk. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 25, 307–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y., Gong, Z., Zhang, G., & Burghardt, W. (2003). Concentrations and chemical speciations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cr of urban soils in Nanjing, China. Geoderma, 115, 101–111.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luo, W., Lu, Y., Wang, G., Shi, Y., Wang, T., & Giesy, J. P. (2008). Distribution and availability of arsenic in soils from the industrialized urban area of Beijing, China. Chemosphere, 72, 797–802.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madrid, L., Díaz-Barrientos, E., & Madrid, F. (2002). Distribution of heavy metal contents of urban soils in parks of Seville. Chemosphere, 49, 1301–1308.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madrid, L., Díaz-Barrientos, E., Ruiz-Cortés, E., Reinoso, R., Biasioli, M., Davidson, C. M., et al. (2006). Variability in concentrations of potentially toxic elements in urban parks from six European cities. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 8, 1158–1165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Massas, I., Ehaliotis, C., Gerontidis, S., & Sarris, E. (2009). Elevated heavy metal concentrations in top soils of an Aegean island town (Greece): Total and available forms, origin and distribution. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 151, 105–116.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mellor, A. (2001). Lead and zinc in the Wallsend Burn, an urban catchment in Tyneside, UK. Science of the Total Environment, 269, 49–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mesilio, L., Farago, M. E., & Thornton, I. (2003). Reconnaissance soil geochemical survey of Gibraltar. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 25, 1–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mielke, H. W., Berry, K. J., Mielke, P. W., Powell, E., & Gonzales, C. R. (2005). Multiple metal accumulation as a factor in learning achievement within various New Orleans elementary school communities. Environmental Research, 97, 67–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare (2006). Decreto Legislativo 152/2006. Norme in materia ambientale. Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana n. 88 Supplemento n. 96/L. 14/4/2006

  • Möller, A., Müller, H. W., Abdullah, A., Abdelgawad, G., & Utermann, J. (2005). Urban soil pollution in Damascus, Syria: Concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of the Damascus Ghouta. Geoderma, 124, 63–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morcelli, C. P. R., Figueiredo, A. M. G., Sarkis, J. E. S., Enzweiler, J., Kakazu, M., & Sigolo, J. B. (2005). PGEs and other traffic-related elements in roadside soils from São Paulo, Brazil. Science of the Total Environment, 345, 81–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morel, Jl, Schwartz, C., Florentin, L., & De Kimpe, C. (2005). Soil management and conservation: Urban soils. In D. Hillel (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of soils in the environment. London: Academic. ISBN 0123485304, 2900 pages.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton, O., Puchelt, H., Hernandez, E., & Lounejeva, E. (2001). Traffic-related platinum group elements (PGE), in soils from Mexico City. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 72, 223–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morton-Bermea, O., Hernandez, E., Martinez-Pichardo, E., Soler-Arechalde, A. M., Santa-Cruz, R. L., Gonzalez-Hernandez, G., et al. (2009). Mexico City topsoils: Heavy metals vs. magnetic susceptibility. Geoderma, 151, 121–125.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, K. S., Rogers, D. T., & Kaufman, M. M. (2004). Heavy metals in an urban watershed in Southeastern Michigan. Journal of Environmental Quality, 33, 163–172.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nabulo, G., Oryem-Origa, H., & Diamond, M. (2006). Assessment of lead, cadmium, and zinc contamination of roadside soils, surface films, and vegetables in Kampala City, Uganda. Environmental Research, 101, 42–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nevin, R. (2007). Understanding international crime trends: The legacy of preschool lead exposure. Environmental Research, 104, 315–336.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norra, S., Lanka-Panditha, M., Kramar, U., & Stüben, D. (2006). Mineralogical and geochemical patterns of urban surface soils, the example of Pforzheim, Germany. Applied Geochemistry, 21, 2064–2081.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norrström, A. C., & Jacks, G. (1998). Concentration and fraction of heavy metals in roadside soils receiving de-icing salts. Science of the Total Environment, 218, 161–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obernosterer, R., & Brunner, P. H. (2001). Urban metal management: The example of lead. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Focus, 1, 241–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Öborn, I., & Linde, M. (2001). Solubility and potential mobility of heavy metals in two contaminated urban soils from Stockholm, Sweden. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Focus, 1, 255–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olajire, A. A., & Ayodele, E. T. (1997). Contamination of roadside soil and grass with heavy metals. Environment International, 23, 91–101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ordóñez, A., Loredo, J., De Miguel, E., & Charlesworth, S. (2003). Distribution of heavy metals in the street dusts and soils of an industrial city in Northern Spain. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 44, 160–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palm, V., & Ostlund, C. (1996). Lead and zinc flows from technosphere to biosphere in a city region. Science of the Total Environment, 192, 95–109.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, E., Sanka, M., & Clark, L. (1996). Urban soils as pollutant sinks—A case study from Aberdeen, Scotland. Applied Geochemistry, 11, 129–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peltola, P., & Åström, M. (2003). Urban geochemistry: A multimedia and multielement survey of a small town in northern Europe. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 25, 397–419.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pichtel, J., Sawyer, H. T., & Czarnowska, K. (1997). Spatial and temporal distribution of metals in soils in Warsaw, Poland. Environmental Pollution, 98, 169–174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poggio, L., Vrščaj, B., Schulin, R., Hepperle, E., & Ajmone Marsan, F. (2009). Metals pollution and human bioaccessibility of topsoils in Grugliasco (Italy). Environmental Pollution, 157, 680–689.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pouyat, R. V., Yesilonis, I. D., Russell-Anelli, J., & Neerchal, N. K. (2007). Soil chemical and physical properties that differentiate urban land-use and cover type. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 71, 1010–1019.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prichard, H. M., Jackson, M. T., & Sampson, J. (2008). Dispersal and accumulation of Pt, Pd and Rh derived from a roundabout in Sheffield (UK): From stream to tidal estuary. Science of the Total Environment, 401, 90–99.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, P. E., Subramanian, K. S., & Jessiman, B. J. (2001). A multi-element profile of housedust in relation to exterior dust and soils in the city of Ottawa, Canada. Science of the Total Environment, 267, 124–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ren, H. M., Wang, J. D., & Zhang, X. L. (2006). Assessment of soil lead exposure in children in Shenyang, China. Environmental Pollution, 144, 327–335.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riga-Karandinos, A. N., Saitanis, C. J., & Arapis, G. (2006). First study of anthropogenic PGE in roadside top-soils in Athens, Greece. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 172, 3–20.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rimmer, D. L., Vizard, C. G., Pless-Mulloli, T., Singleton, I., Air, V. S., & Keatinge, Z. A. F. (2006). Metal contamination of urban soils in the vicinity of a municipal waste incinerator: One source among many. Science of the Total Environment, 356, 207–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues, S., Pereira, M. E., Duarte, A. C., Ajmone-Marsan, F., Davidson, C. M., Grčman, H., et al. (2006). Mercury in urban soils: A comparison of local spatial variability in six European cities. Science of the Total Environment, 368, 926–936.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romic, M., & Romic, D. (2003). Heavy metals distribution in agricultural topsoils in urban area. Environmental Geology, 43, 795–805.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salonen, V., & Korkka-Niemi, K. (2007). Influence of parent sediments on the concentration of heavy metals in urban and suburban soils in Turku, Finland. Applied Geochemistry, 22, 906–918.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salvagio Manta, D., Angelone, M., Bellanca, A., Neri, R., & Sprovieri, M. (2002). Heavy metals in urban soils: A case study from the city of Palermo (Sicily), Italy. Science of the Total Environment, 300, 229–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samecka-Cymerman, A., & Kempers, A. J. (1999). Bioindication of heavy metals in the town Wrocław (Poland) with evergreen plants. Atmospheric Environment, 33, 419–430.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Martin, M. J., Sánchez-Camazano, M., & Lorenzo, L. F. (2000). Cadmium and lead contents in suburban and urban soils from two medium-sized cities of Spain: Influence of traffic intensity. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 64, 250–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauvé, S., Cook, N., Hendershot, W., & McBribe, M. B. (1996). Linking plant tissue concentrations and soil copper pools in urban contaminated soils. Environmental Pollution, 94, 153–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schütz, A., Barregård, L., Sällsten, G., Wilske, J., Manay, N., Pereira, L., et al. (1997). Blood lead in Uruguayan children and possible sources of exposure. Environmental Research, 74, 17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, C., Fetzer, K. D., & Morel, J. L. (1995). Factors of contamination of garden soils by heavy metals. In R. Prost (Ed.), CD-Rom, Contaminated Soils, Third International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Paris.

  • Sharma, K., & Reutergardh, L. B. (2000). Exposure of preschoolers to lead in the Makati area of metro Manila, the Philippines. Environmental Research Section A, 83, 322–332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, G., Chen, Z., Xu, S., Zhang, J., Wang, L., Bi, C., et al. (2008). Potentially toxic metal contamination of urban soils and roadside dust in Shanghai. China Environmental Pollution, 156, 251–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sörme, L., Bergbäck, B., & Lohm, U. (2001). Century perspective of heavy metal use in urban areas. A case study in Stockholm. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. Focus, 1, 197–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spatari, S., Bertram, M., Gordon, R. B., Henderson, K., & Graedel, T. E. (2005). Twentieth century copper stocks and flows in North America: A dynamic analysis. Ecological Economics, 54, 37–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, R. A. (2002). Comparison between non-residual Al, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn released by a three-step sequential extraction procedure and a diluted hydrochloric acid leach for soil and road deposited sediment. Applied Geochemistry, 17, 353–365.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, R. A., & Tack, F. M. G. (2000). Metal phase associations in soils from an urban watershed, Honolulu, Hawaii. Science of the Total Environment, 256, 103–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, R. A., Pearson, D. G., & Ottley, C. J. (2007). Platinum-group elements (Ir, Pd, Pt and Rh), in road-deposited sediments in two urban watersheds, Hawaii. Applied Geochemistry, 22, 1485–1501.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tankari Dan-Badjo, A., Ducoulombier-Crépineau, C., Soligot, C., Feidt, C., & Rychen, G. (2007). Deposition of platinum group elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on ryegrass exposed to vehicular traffic. Agronomy and Sustainable Development, 27, 261–266.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terazono, A., Murakami, S., Abe, N., Inanc, B., Moriguchi, Y., Sakai, S., et al. (2006). Current status and research on E-waste issues in Asia. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 8, 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thuy, H. T. T., Tobschall, H. J., & An, P. V. (2000). Distribution of heavy metals in urban soils—A case study of Danang-Hoian Area (Vietnam). Environmental Geology, 39, 603–610.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tijhuis, L., Brattli, B., & Sæther, O. M. (2002). A geochemical survey of topsoil in the city of Oslo, Norway. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 24, 67–94.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turer, D., Mynard, J. B., & Sansalone, J. J. (2001). Heavy metal contamination in soils of urban highways: Comparison between runoff and soil concentrations at Cincinnati, Ohio. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 132, 293–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2008). World Urbanization Prospects. The 2007 Revision Population Database. Retrieved from http://esa.un.org/unup/.

  • van Beers, D., & Graedel, T. E. (2007). Spatial characterisation of multi-level in-use copper and zinc stocks in Australia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 15, 849–861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Bohemen, H. D., & Van De Laak, W. H. J. (2003). The influence of road infrastructure and traffic on soil, water, and air quality. Environmental Management, 31, 50–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Kamp, I., Leidelmeijer, K., Marsmana, G., & de Hollander, A. (2003). Urban environmental quality and human well-being. Towards a conceptual framework and demarcation of concepts. A literature study. Landscape and Urban Planning, 65, 5–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Braun, M. C., von Lindern, I. H., Khristoforova, N. K., Kachur, A. H., Yelpatyevsky, P. V., Elpatyevskaya, V. P., et al. (2002). Environmental lead contamination in the Rudnaya Pristan–Dalnegorsk mining and smelter district, Russian far east. Environmental Research Section A, 88, 164–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • VROM—The Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (2000). Circular on target values and intervention values for soil remediation. Annex A. DBO/1999226863, The Hague, The Netherlands.

  • Vrščaj, B., Zupan, M., & Lobnik, F. (2002). Data on soil pollution for urban planning. Trans 9th Inter. Congr Soil Sci, Bangkok, Thailand, 14–21 August 2002.

  • Wang, X. S., & Qin, Y. (2007). Some characteristics of the distribution of heavy metals in urban topsoil of Xuzhou, China. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 29, 11–19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. S., & Sun, C. (2009). Pt and Pd concentrations and source in urban roadside soils from Xuzhou, China. Environmental Geology, 56(6), 1129–1133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. S., Qin, Y., & Chen, Y. K. (2006). Heavy metals in urban roadside soils, part 1: Effect of particle size fractions on heavy metals partitioning. Environmental Geology, 50, 1061–1066.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, B., & Yang, L. (2009). A review of heavy metal contaminations in urban soils, urban road dusts and agricultural soils from China. Microchemical Journal. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2009.09.014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteley, J. D., & Murray, F. (2003). Anthropogenic PGE concentrations in road dusts and roadside soils from Perth, Western Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 317, 121–135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wichmann, H., Anquandah, G. A. K., Schmidt, C., Zachmann, D., & Bahadir, M. A. (2007). Increase of platinum group element concentrations in soils and airborne dust in an urban area in Germany. Science of the Total Environment, 388, 121–127.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilcke, W., Muller, S., Kanchanakool, N., & Zech, W. (1998). Urban soil contamination in Bangkok: Heavy metal and aluminium partitioning in topsoils. Geoderma, 86, 211–228.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, C. S. C., & Li, X. D. (2004). Pb contamination and isotopic composition of urban soils in Hong Kong. Science of the Total Environment, 319, 185–195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, C. S. C., Li, X. D., & Thornton, I. (2006). Urban environmental geochemistry of trace metals. Environmental Pollution, 142, 1–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, M. H., Wu, S. C., Deng, W. J., Yu, X. Z., Luo, Q., Leung, A. O. W., et al. (2007). Export of toxic chemicals—A review of the case of uncontrolled electronic-waste recycling. Environmental Pollution, 149, 131–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Y., Campbell, C. D., Clark, L., Cameron, C. M., & Paterson, E. (2006). Microbial indicators of heavy metal contamination in urban and rural soils. Chemosphere, 63, 1942–1952.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz, F., Yilmaz, Y. Z., Ergin, M., Erkol, A. Y., Muftuoglu, A. E., & Karakelle, B. (2003). Heavy metal concentrations in surface soils of Izmit Gulf region, Turkey. Journal of Trace and Microprobe Techniques, 21, 523–531.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yongming, H., Peixuan, D., Junji, C., & Posmentier, E. S. (2006). Multivariate analysis of heavy metal contamination in urban dusts of Xi'an, Central China. Science of the Total Environment, 355, 176–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai, M., Kampunzu, H. A. B., Modisi, M. P., & Totolo, O. (2003). Distribution of heavy metals in Gaborone urban soils (Botswana), and its relationship to soil pollution and bedrock composition. Environmental Geology, 45, 171–180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, C. (2006). Using multivariate analyses and GIS to identify pollutants and their spatial patterns in urban soils in Galway, Ireland. Environmental Pollution, 142, 501–511.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DI.VA.P.R.A.—Chimica Agraria, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy

    Franco Ajmone-Marsan & Mattia Biasioli

Authors
  1. Franco Ajmone-Marsan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mattia Biasioli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mattia Biasioli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ajmone-Marsan, F., Biasioli, M. Trace Elements in Soils of Urban Areas. Water Air Soil Pollut 213, 121–143 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0372-6

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0372-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation