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

Authors : Alaaddin Vural

Pages : 1-16

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Publication Date : 2025-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

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 : Doğu Pontidler, Toprak kirliliği, Arsenik, Zenginleşme faktörü, Çevresel risk

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