Contamination of soils with Cu, Na and Hg due to the highway and railway transport

Abstract

Article Info Received : 09.05.2016 Accepted : 20.07.2016 Contamination of soils with three metals due to the highway and railway transport was studied. Copper was selected as a suitable indicator for both kinds of transportation. Sodium served to assess the level of contamination resulting from the road salting in winter. Mercury was determined in samples taken close to the railway in order to test its release from impregnated wooden ties. All analytes were determined using the methods of the trace element analysis; values are expressed as dry matter. The highest concentrations of copper, sodium and total mercury in soil samples were 52.7 mg/kg, 770 mg/kg and 0.181 mg/kg respectively. The highest copper content was observed in soils taken close to the railroad and the highway. Elevated sodium levels originated from winter road salting -the highest winter value was 770 mg/kg as compared with maximal summer value of 416 mg/kg. The concentration of total mercury in soils depended on the type of railway ties used -the highest values for location with wooden and concrete ties were 0.181 mg/kg and 0.145 mg/kg, respectively. Wooden railroad ties are considered as a potential source of mercury because of impregnation with antifungal mercury compounds.

The Analysis of Heavy Metal Pollutants Emitted by Railway Transport

“…Complex studies of the Cd pollution have shown that in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, that the safe distance from the railway stations are up to 15 m. Therefore, based on the research of the scientists, it can be stated that it is necessary not only to monitor the distribution of Cd in different soil profiles, but also to monitor the morphological properties of the soil, its granulometric composition and higher concentration of humus, clay, minerals, phosphate and carbonate ions in the soil. Complex studies have confirmed that the contaminate levels of Cd increased with the operation time of the railway lines (Stojic et al 2017;Šeda et al 2017;Zhang et al 2012;Chen et al 2014).…”

“…Analogously performed and previously discussed Pb pollution studies, complex studies of the Zn pollution have shown that in order to reduce the negative impact on the environment, that the safe distance from the railway stations are up to 10…15 m. Therefore, based on the research of the scientists, it can be stated that it is necessary not only to monitor the distribution of Zn in different soil profiles, but also to monitor the morphological properties of the soil, its organic matter content and granulometric composition (Stojic et al 2017;Šeda et al 2017;Zhang et al 2012;Chen et al 2014).…”

“…A part of them migrate to deeper soil horizons. When entered groundwater, the pollutants tend to accumulate in the sludge of shaft wells (Christoforidis, Stamatis 2009;Bai et al 2011;Hasselbach et al 2005;Helmreich et al 2010;Šeda et al 2017;Paschke et al 2000;Wierzbicka et al 2015;Zhang et al 2013).…”

Assessment of the Railroad Transport Impact on Physical and Chemical Soil Properties: The Case Study from Zduńska Wola Karsznice Railway Junction, Central Poland

“…The highest copper content was observed in soils taken close to the railroad. [13] Railway tracks on the territory of Srem, Serbia…”

“…Scientists are increasingly paying more attention to the source of many contaminants from the railway. The PHEs can be connected with, i.e., abrasion of wheels and rails or even with the materials that conserve railway sleepers [12][13][14][15][16].…”