Concentration, Sources, and Associated Risks of Trace Elements in the Surface Soil of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Kafle, Hemu Kharel; Khadgi, Jasmita; Ojha, Roshan Babu; Santoso, Muhayatun

doi:10.1007/s11270-021-05444-1

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Silicon and oxygen are the most abundant elements in the Earth's crust and combine to form silicates, which are highly concentrated. Kafle et al, 2023 reported elemental concentration of Si as the most abundant (53.4%) element, followed by Al (12%) and K (11.4%) [21]. The level of silicon (Si) detected in our findings surpassed the typical average concentration of 29% found at the Earth's crust's outer layer, posing a potential environmental hazard to its surroundings [21].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 42%

“…An assessment was conducted to compare the levels and intensities of the identified elements at the contaminated locations against a control site. Kafle et al, 2022, reported a similar sequence of determined elements, where concentration and abundance of studied elements were found to be in the order of Si > Al > K > Fe > Ca > Na > Mg > Ti > P > S > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cd > V > Pb > Cu > Ni > As > Se [21]. The findings suggest that the polluted areas displayed elevated concentrations of Ca and Fe, in contrast to the reference site which showcased minimal levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Kafle et al, 2023 reported elemental concentration of Si as the most abundant (53.4%) element, followed by Al (12%) and K (11.4%) [21]. The level of silicon (Si) detected in our findings surpassed the typical average concentration of 29% found at the Earth's crust's outer layer, posing a potential environmental hazard to its surroundings [21]. Excessive amounts of silicon (Si) can lead to a condition known as silicosis, posing a significant health risk.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Possibly Toxic Elements in Landfill Soils and Their Impacts on the Ecosystem in Alice, South Africa

Maphuhla,

Oyedeji

2024

Pollutants

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Soil contamination by metallic components is an obscure, detrimental, protracted, and irreparable predicament. Dumping of waste containing heavy metals into landfills, fertilizer and pesticide application, and coal combustion results in high toxicity of metallic elements, and their continuous accumulation in soil pollutes the environment, which, in turn, poses a threat to human health. The specimens were subsequently dehydrated, processed for mineralization, and carefully examined microscopically by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), which examined their mineral substance, crystalline configuration, and chemical composition. Thirteen (13) elements were detected, and only eight (8) metals were discovered (K, Mg, Na, Ca, Al, Fe, Au, Ba), including non-metals (C, O, Cl, P) and a metalloid (Si). The concentrations of possibly toxic elements obtained showed no consistent succession, as they fluctuated across the examined sites. The Al concentration ranged from 3.78 ± 0.23 wt% to 10.23 ± 0.31 wt%, while the Fe concentration fluctuated from 4.14 ± 0.40 wt% to 13.13 ± 1.07 wt%. Na and Mg levels were present in all samples, but their availability was minimal, at less than 2.0 wt%, ranging between 1.44 ± 0.20 wt% and 0.31 ± 0.08 wt%. The concentrations of Ca and K were low in all soil samples, ranging from 0.91 ± 0.14 wt% to 5.56 ± 0.47 wt% for Ca and from 1.32 ± 0.25 wt% to 4.87 ± 0.18 wt% for K. During the investigation at the designated and control areas, it was discovered that the concentrations of potentially hazardous metals exceeded the accepted limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) > 100 ppm. The findings provide proof of metallic contaminants in the study region, which calls for proper monitoring, management, and remedial measures of metal-tainted sites, since the residents of this locality are at a significantly elevated risk of experiencing adverse effects due to their heightened exposure to these elements. As a result of that, there is an imperative need to monitor and regulate this area regularly and appropriately. The study recommends sustainable farming practices, where farmers could use natural fertilizers and compost, as well as, the implementation of proper waste management, effective recycling techniques, and proper disposal of substances containing heavy metals as byproducts. Further implement remediation techniques that effectively and safely restore soils contaminated by metals in an environmentally sustainable and economically efficient manner.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 42%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Possibly Toxic Elements in Landfill Soils and Their Impacts on the Ecosystem in Alice, South Africa

Maphuhla,

Oyedeji

2024

Pollutants

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“…It is the ratio of an element's concentration in a soil sample to the standard (background) value of the corresponding element (Hu et al, 2017 ). It allows identifying which heavy metal represents the highest threat to a soil environment (Kafle et al, 2022 ) (Table 2 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation and risks of potentially toxic elements in agricultural lowlands of central Cameroon

Nana

Falkenberg

Rechenburg

et al. 2023

Environ Geochem Health

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Intensive urban agriculture is expanding in Cameroon, which increases the risks of environmental pollution, particularly in the lowlands. This study assessed the seasonal characteristics of some potentially toxic elements and their ecological risks during the dry and wet seasons in urban agricultural soils in four lowlands in Yaoundé. The area and seasonal variation of some potentially toxic elements (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Ni) were evaluated using mixed-effects modeling. The pollution status of these elements in the soil was evaluated and interpreted using parameters such as the single pollution (SPI) and Nemerow composite pollution (NCPI) indices. In addition, the effect of these metals in the environment was assessed using the potential ecological risk index (PERI). The distribution of all the studied elements showed an area effect, while a seasonal effect was only noticeable for Cu. The concentration of Cu, Pb, and Zn was higher than the recommended threshold values in one of the areas sampled, while Cr exceeded these threshold values in all areas during both seasons. Cr exhibited the highest SPI among all studied elements during the dry and wet seasons in all areas. Except for the NCPI in one area, where grade V (strong) soil pollution was recorded during the wet season, the soil from all the study areas exhibited a slight pollution level (grade III) with a mean NCPI between 1 and 2. The PERI value of all areas was below the reference values during both seasons, suggesting an overall low potential contamination risk of the soil biota. The results indicate that preventive action to limit the heavy metal contamination in the lowlands of Yaoundé needs to be taken, for instance, through the promotion of more sustainable use of agrochemicals like pesticides and mineral fertilizers.

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“…Due to the large number of species, small activity range, and sensitivity to heavy metals, soil animals are significantly affected by the toxicity of heavy metals in terms of individual growth and development and population size [ 8 ]. An increasing number of methods for soil heavy metal pollution analysis, including the pollution index method, the enrichment index method, the Nemerow index method, neural networks, geo-accumulation index, etc., have been employed in different regions [ 9 , 10 ]. Statistical-, pollution index-, and Nemerow index-based methods were exploited to study the heavy metal pollution of China’s Raoyanghe Wetland by Wang, the results shown that deep layer soils were classified as having a ‘mild’ level of pollution [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological risk evaluation and sensitivity analysis of heavy metals on soil organisms under human activities in the Tibet Plateau, China

Zeng

Liang

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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The Tibetan Plateau (TP), once considered a pristine environment, is now facing increased heavy metal pollution due to human activities, causing unprecedented ecological risks to soil organisms. However, little is known about the sensitivity and tolerance of different soil organisms to heavy metal toxicity in the high-altitude areas of the TP under the background of human activity intensity and future risk control priorities. In this study, we conducted an ecological risk assessment and threshold calculation for 10 heavy metals in soil for typical soil organisms, including Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Mn, Sb, and Sn, using the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method in the zone between Ranwu town and Renlongba glacier on the TP. The results revealed that most sampling sites had average levels of Cd, Sb and Ni exceeding their regional soil environmental background values and were the major contaminants. Impressively, the hitherto undeveloped Renlungba Glacier showed relatively high contamination levels of Sb and Ni. From the view of sensitivity differences, the toxicity risks of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb were higher for terrestrial plants than for soil invertebrates based on the fitted heavy metal SSD curve trends. In terms of the ecological risk level, the average potentially affected fraction values of Zn and Ni reached 18.5% and 17.0%, respectively, with significant ecological risk at a few sampling sites. In terms of ecological risk thresholds, the Cd concentration at the 5% hazard concentration (HC5) control level was 0.05 mg/kg, which was the heavy metal with the highest risk in this study. Comparing the HC5 values of each heavy metal with the limit values in the current Chinese soil environmental quality standards, the existing administrative policies as a whole lack a powerful prevention of the potential ecological risk posed by heavy metals to soil organisms.

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Concentration, Sources, and Associated Risks of Trace Elements in the Surface Soil of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Cited by 11 publications

References 65 publications

Assessment of Possibly Toxic Elements in Landfill Soils and Their Impacts on the Ecosystem in Alice, South Africa

Assessment of Possibly Toxic Elements in Landfill Soils and Their Impacts on the Ecosystem in Alice, South Africa

Seasonal variation and risks of potentially toxic elements in agricultural lowlands of central Cameroon

Ecological risk evaluation and sensitivity analysis of heavy metals on soil organisms under human activities in the Tibet Plateau, China

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