Evaluation of urban contamination with Co, Ni and Pb in three urban parks in Serbia using pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) needles and urban topsoil

Abstract

Increasing industrialization and human activities intensify the emission of various pollutants, including metals and other harmful substances into the environment. Concentration of Co, Ni and Pb were determined in the surface layer of soil (0-20 cm) and in 1- and 2-year old needles of Pinus nigra in urban parks in three cities in Serbia exposed to different pollution sources. Contamination factor was used to assess potential ecological risk in urban topsoil. Analysis showed that Ni concentrations in soil surpass the target value of 35 mg kg-1 but are below background values for selected sampling sites, which indicates its geological origin. However, Pb content in all examined soils surpassed the background values, and in Smederevo the target value of 85 mg kg-1. This was confirmed by contamination factor that indicates moderate contamination and anthropogenic influence. Element content in both 1- and 2-year old needles was within normal values for plant tissues. Although results obtained in this study suggest low contamination in needles, it should be noted that anthropogenic and industrial pollution causes alkalinization of soils in examined parks, which consequently leads to immobilization of elements in soils.