Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element Pollution in Surface Soils of the Upper Ohre River Basin.

ABSTRACT: The soils of river basins are often exposed to contaminants resulting from anthropogenic activities. This research identified 11 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and assessed pollution indices, ecological risk assessments, and human health risks in the topsoil of the Upper Ohře River Basin (Czech Republic and Germany). Among the PTEs, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn exhibited considerable variability across the area, with contents exceeding the legislative limits of the Czech Republic, particularly at three locations near coal mining activities. Various indices indicated significant contamination in the river basin (pollution load index > 1, except at one location); however, the level of pollution varied across locations and in relation to the used indices. The ecological risk factor identified As

SUBMITTER: Zemanova V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12390311 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature