Assessment of Soil Quality and Environmental Risk Using Multiple Pollution Indices: Avliyana (Gümüşhane, NE Türkiye)

Abstract

This study aims to determine the pollution levels and trace element enrichments of soils in the Avliyana area (Gümüşhane), located in the Eastern Pontide Orogenic Belt. The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb in the field soils were analyzed, and pollution levels were evaluated using the Pollution Index (PI), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). According to the findings, while Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn elements generally remained at natural background levels (EF < 2), distinct enrichments were detected in Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb). Arsenic, in particular, was identified as the dominant pollutant in the area, with an average value of 82.74 ppm (maximum 533 ppm) and an Enrichment Factor (EF) exceeding 40. Comparison with local bedrock (granitoids and volcanics) data revealed that Arsenic is enriched approximately 42-fold in the soil compared to the parent rock, and this phenomenon is associated with anthropogenic effects and physicochemical processes (chemical trap) rather than a lithogenic origin. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) results indicate that environmental quality has deteriorated in the majority of the sampled points (13/16) and that certain locations exhibit "hotspot" characteristics.

Keywords

• Eastern Pontides
• Soil pollution
• Arsenic
• Enrichment factor
• Environmental risk

Çoklu Kirlilik İndeksleri Kullanılarak Toprak Kalitesinin ve Çevresel Riskin Değerlendirilmesi: Avliyana (Gümüşhane, KD Türkiye)

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Doğu Pontid Orojenik Kuşağı’nda yer alan Avliyana (Gümüşhane) sahasındaki toprakların kirlilik düzeylerini ve iz element zenginleşmelerini belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Arazi topraklarında Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd ve Pb konsantrasyonları analiz edilmiş ve kirlilik seviyeleri Kirlilik İndeksi (PI), Jeo-birikim İndeksi (Igeo), Zenginleşme Faktörü (EF) ve Kirlilik Yükü İndeksi (PLI) kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgulara göre Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu ve Zn elementleri genellikle doğal arka plan seviyelerinde kalırken (EF < 2), Arsenik (As), Kadmiyum (Cd) ve Kurşun (Pb) için belirgin zenginleşmeler tespit edilmiştir. Özellikle Arsenik, alanda baskın kirletici olarak belirlenmiş olup ortalama 82,74 ppm (maksimum 533 ppm) değerine ve 40’ın üzerinde Zenginleşme Faktörü (EF) değerlerine ulaşmaktadır. Yerel ana kaya (granitoidler ve volkanikler) verileriyle karşılaştırıldığında, Arsenik'in toprakta ana kayaya göre yaklaşık 42 kat zenginleştiği görülmüş ve bu durum litojenik bir kökenden ziyade antropojenik etkiler ve fiziko-kimyasal süreçlerle (kimyasal tuzak) ilişkilendirilmiştir. Kirlilik Yükü İndeksi (PLI) sonuçları, örnekleme noktalarının büyük bölümünde (13/16) çevresel kalitenin bozulduğunu ve bazı lokasyonların “sıcak nokta” (hotspot) özelliği sergilediğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• Doğu Pontidler
• Toprak kirliliği
• Arsenik
• Zenginleşme faktörü
• Çevresel risk

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