Abstract
Background.Different fractions of metals, of varying origin and reactivity, are present in sediments of forest soil. Forest ecosystems are privileged sites for the deposition of persistent organic pollutants carried by the atmosphere.Objectives.The present study describes the current state of metallic contamination around the Hafir forest, located southwest of Tlemcen, Algeria, based on analysis of total sediment mineralization and the speciation of each metal to examine the effects of emissions due to road traffic.Methods.The distribution and migration of ten heavy metals were studied, including cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and silver (Ag), and four major elements: potassium (K), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) in the superficial horizon of forest soil (0–20 cm) at different road distances (0–1700 m), in two sampling campaigns in the dry and wet seasons around the Hafir forest, Algeria.Results.Bioavailability appears to be relatively low due to the small amount of metals present in the carbonate fraction and the alkaline pH. The impact of road traffic was observed in the variability of the concentrations of several trace elements in forest soil, such as Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd. They were generally observed at very high levels along the roadside due to dry atmospheric deposition.Conclusions.The high levels of metals in the carbonate, reducible and residual phases indicate a direct influence on the environment stemming from road traffic near the forest as well as contamination from rainfall in the area.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Highlights
Metals are inorganic micropollutants naturally present in soils, originating from the parent rock on which they were formed, most often in mobile form but at very low concentrations
The present study describes the current state of metallic contamination around the Hafir forest, located southwest of Tlemcen, Algeria, based on analysis of total sediment mineralization and the speciation of each metal to examine the effects of emissions due to road traffic
Natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the studied forest ecosystem can lead to daily intakes of metallic trace elements in the surrounding soil
Summary
Metals are inorganic micropollutants naturally present in soils, originating from the parent rock on which they were formed, most often in mobile form but at very low concentrations. Localized inputs result from accidental anthropogenic intakes related to industrial activities without effective protection against dispersion in the environment.[2] Metallic contamination of soils due to previous or current local atmospheric deposits explains the current contents of MTE such as Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb.[1] Among these metallic elements, some (Cu and Zn) function as micronutrients at low levels but become toxic at high concentrations.[3] Others such as Pb or Cd are toxic at low concentrations and can constitute a serious public health problem because of bioaccumulation.[4] In soils, metals are naturally present in relatively unmovable forms and at low levels. Determination of the total element concentration, insufficient to describe these environmental processes, is carried out in order
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