Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the extent and patterns of antimony and tin contamination in soils along railway lines, as there are very few data in the literature on this subject. The study was conducted in north-western Croatia. Total and bioavailable concentrations of Sn and Sb were detected using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS). The following results were obtained: total concentrations of Sb ranged from 0.98 to 52.0 mg/kg and of Sn from 3.04 mg/kg to 97.6 mg/kg. The soil samples showed pronounced Sb and Sn enrichment, up to 87 and 33 times the median value for European soils, respectively. In contrast to the total concentrations, the bioavailable concentrations showed relatively low values. For Sn, the percentage of total content ranged from 0.001 to 0.021%, while for Sb it ranged from 0.001 to 0.136%. Statistical data analysis suggests that the distribution of Sb and Sn in soils near railway lines is influenced by the functional use of the site, distance from the tracks, topography, age of the railway line, and also by soil properties such as soil texture, humus content, and soil pH. This study demonstrates that rail transport is a source of soil pollution with Sn and Sb. The origin of Sb and Sn enrichment is abrasion by brakes, rails, wheels, freight losses, exhaust gasses, etc. Both elements in soils along railway lines pose an environmental risk to humans, agricultural production, and wildlife, and therefore further detailed studies are required.
Highlights
The development of transportation, industry, power generation, and agriculture are crucial factors in the economic progress of any country
In order to increase the knowledge about antimony and tin, rare trace elements emitted by railway traffic, the main objectives of this work are: (a) to determine the Sb and Sn content in soils along the railway lines in north-western Croatia, (b) to identify the contamination patterns, (c) to study the bioavailable concentrations of Sn and Sb in soils, and (d) to determine their possible sources
The total concentrations of Sn in soils along the railway lines in north-western Croatia ranged from 3.04 mg/kg to 97.6 mg/kg (Table 1)
Summary
The development of transportation, industry, power generation, and agriculture are crucial factors in the economic progress of any country Such progress is associated with increasing pollution and often leads to the contamination of various components of the environment. 7.00 mg/kg Sn. the Sb and Sn contents in the studied soils in the north-western part of Croatia range from the minimum values close to the medians reported for European soils to the maximum values of 52.0 mg/kg for Sb and 97.6 mg/kg for Sn, with RSDs of. At the sites where the highest CF values were established, the concentrations of Sb and Sn in the soil were 87 and 33 times higher, respectively, than the median value for European soils; 36 and 14 times higher, respectively, than the lowest value reported for north-eastern Croatia; and 31 and 24 times higher, respectively, than the background value for the study area (Table S1). The obtained data indicate a great variability of Sb and Sn content, and an exceptional enrichment of the soil with Sb and
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