The impacts of mining on soil pollution with metal(loid)s in resource-rich Mongolia.

As Mongolia is considered one of the most resource extraction-dependent countries globally, significant mining-related environmental and human health risks are expected. The aim of this study was to (I) assess the impacts of mining on soil pollution with metals in Mongolia's key coal mining towns (Baganuur, Nalaikh and Sharyn Gol) and (II) review the current knowledge on soil pollution with metal(loid)s and related health risks in Mongolia. The results showed predominantly low soil contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn and a related absence of severe pollution and potential health risk in the coal mining towns. Urban design, rather than the presence of mines, controlled the pollution distribution. Despite the methodological shortcomings of several studies on soil pollution in Mongolia, their results suggest a similarly low threat in the three largest cities (Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, Erdenet) and several mining areas. While the generally highlighted risk of As seems like an artificially escalated issue, the content of Cr in urban soil may be a neglected threat. Further pollution research in Mongolia should focus on street dust and drinking water pollution.

The impact of tourism on extremely visited volcanic island: Link between environmental pollution and transportation modes.

The enormous tourism boom raises concern about possible negative environmental impacts worldwide. One of the risks posed by tourism may be heavy metal pollution. On the example of the volcanic island of Santorini, a popular tourist destination, pollution of soils categorized according to the tourism load was monitored. Significant anthropogenic contamination by heavy metals, especially Cu, Cr and Pb, was found out. This contamination may constitute a moderate ecological risk to the island ecosystems. Tourism has been shown to be a significant pollution factor as evidenced by the contaminated soils near the airport. Simultaneously, airport traffic has been proved to be an important emitter of Co, Cr and especially Zn. The comparison with other volcanic islands has shown that on Santorini the content of heavy metals in soils is significantly lower, despite frequently higher tourism intensity. On this basis, it can be concluded that in case of volcanic islands the dominant factor determining the content of heavy metals in the soil is the parent rock. Given high and ever-increasing intensity of tourism on the island, it can be assumed that soil contamination will continue to rise rapidly. Therefore, without proper steps reducing tourism, increase in soil degradation, growing negative impacts on local ecosystems as well as on the quality of produced wine can be expected on Santorini.

Assessment of phytotoxicity, environmental and health risks of historical urban park soils.

Urban soil areas can be contaminated with potentially dangerous heavy metals (HM), which might have got there by means of the human activity. The aim of the present study was to determine the contamination level of the city park soils and its impact on urban ecosystem. The indices assessing soil contamination such as Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Nemerow Pollution Index (IPIN), and indices assessing health risks, namely Hazard Index (HI) and Carcinogenic Risk (CR), have been calculated. Furthermore, the phytotoxic effect of the soil samples has been determined. The soil contains in average 58.6 mg/kg Zn, 0.3 mg/kg Cd, 27.2 mg/kg Pb and 16.6 mg/kg Cu. Based on EF index, it has been confirmed that the increased amounts of Zn, Cd and Pb in the soil are of the anthropogenic origin. The soil may be classified as moderately to strongly polluted in the case of Zn and Pb according to Igeo. Nevertheless, soil contamination in the park is at a safe level as per IPIN. Based on HI and CR indices, it is possible to state that the soil in the park does not pose any health risks. Subject to the outcomes of the toxicity test, the concentrations of HMs found out in the soils are not inhibitory for plants.