The main purpose of the present study was to monitor actual contamination levels and execute a comparative assessment of results in a mid-sized Hungarian city for two different years. The first citywide soil investigations were completed in 2011. In 2018, the most prominent properties (pH, CaCO3, texture, and trace metals Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were reanalyzed and were supplemented with mesofauna on selected sites. The available trace metal elements of urban soils showed the following tendency in 2011: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr = Ni = Co. In 2018, the previous order changed to Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd = Ni = Co. Cd and Pb enrichments were found, especially near the M7 motorway. The comparison between 2011 and 2018 revealed soil contamination was, on average, higher in 2011. Soil microarthropod communities were sampled and assessed using abundance data and diversity measurements. Soil biological quality was evaluated with the help of the Soil Biological Quality (QBS-ar) index. Acari and Collembola appeared to be the most abundant, ubiquitous taxa in the samples. Simultaneously, important groups like Symphyla, Protura, and Chilopoda were completely absent from the most polluted sites. For the most part, lower taxa richness, diversity, and QBS-ar index were observed with higher available Cu Zn, and Pb concentrations.
During our investigation, we analyzed the urban soils from stream banks and sediment of Rák Creek in the area of Sopron, Hungary. The aim of this work was the determination of the anthropogenic influence on a given stream that flows through an urban area (in this case through the city). The assumption was that the streamflow becomes increasingly polluted with toxic elements as it passes through Sopron; we tried to determine the extent to which the stream is polluted. We had 72 urban soil samples at 36 points at 0-10 and 10-20 cm depths on 6 subcatchments for analyzing the background pollution of Rák Creek. In addition, 6 soil samples from the bank and 12 sediment average samples were taken from the dead region and from the thalweg as well. We analyzed the physical and chemical parameters as well as the heavy metals (e.g., Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni) in all of the samples. Two element fractions, the total (HNO 3 ?H 2 O 2 -extractable) and the available (NH 4 -acetate?EDTA-extractable) were used for element determination. Toxic elements were measured by ICP-OES in the urban soils and the sediments as well. Urban soils of sub-catchments confirmed the following tendency. On the investigated creek points, the Co and Ni values were below the natural background limits (Co total 4.90-14.53 mg kg -1 , Co available 0.64-3.12 mg kg -1 ; Ni total 10.77-24.61 mg kg -1 , Ni available 0.75-3.21 mg kg -1 ).Cu total content was low except in the case of GYORI point. Pb total were under the pollution limit, but Pb available were higher than the suggested pollution limit ([25 mg kg) in the sediment of thalweg and in the soil of the creek bank at the GYORI site. Summarized, GYORI point was the most polluted; this is also confirmed by the enrichment factor (EF). EF for Pb and Zn increased as we moved toward the city. Based on the investigated properties, there were significant differences in heavy metals between the urbanized and non-urbanized areas. The concentrations of heavy metals were higher in the dead region than in the thalweg except for the GYORI samples. According to our results, the city affects the stream and its influence appears in the values: as soon as the stream reaches the city, most of results increase. Therefore, the degree of heavy metal contamination depends mainly on land use.
<p>The impacts of climate change don&#8217;t appear only on natural areas but urbanized areas are also well affected. The unpredictable and extreme weather events</p><p>such as the alternation of drought periods and heavy, stormy precipitation events was typical in the last decades. Three settlements were investigated to detect how the extreme weather events influenced the water, sediment, and soil conditions on anthropogenic affected areas. The studied areas are mostly surrounded by mountains and forestlands and crossed by a river or creek; therefore, close-to-nature ideas, climate strategies, and sustainable urban management are needed to prepare against changing conditions. A heavy storm may increase the leaching of contaminants into soil and watercourses. To support the adaptation, city-wide investigations began in the last decade to make further suggestions for future direction based on measurements and experience. Altogether 672 soil samples and 30 sediment samples were analyzed to give a basis for climate strategy and settlement development concept in the future.</p><p>Project no. 141623 has been implemented with the support provided by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the MEC_R_21 funding scheme.</p>
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