Distribution patterns and origin of potentially toxic elements in soils of the Vanadzor urban area (Armenia).

ABSTRACT: Urban soils preserve important information about the processes conditioning the pollution levels of urban areas. Thus, geochemical characterization of the urban areas is essential for improving environmental quality and reducing potential risks. The results of this study showed that Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr in soils of Vanadzor city exhibited similar spatial distribution patterns. The higher contents of these elements were located close to industrial and residential areas suggesting their predominant anthropogenic origin. In addition, these elements display EF above moderate level. Three geochemical associations unveiled by k-means clustering and the interrelationship of the studied elements within these geochemical associations revealed by the hierarchical clustering showed that Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb a

SUBMITTER: Tepanosyan G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540594 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature