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Developing a new Bayesian Risk Index for risk evaluation of soil contamination
M T D Albuquerque1, S Gerassis2, C Sierra3
1Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal; CERENA/FEUP Research Center, Portugal.
The Science of the Total Environment
|June 19, 2017
Summary
Soil contamination by Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) from industrial and agricultural activities is a major concern. This study identifies high-risk areas needing remediation using a Bayesian Risk Index, pinpointing agricultural zones as critical.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Geochemistry
- Soil Science
- Risk Assessment
Background:
- Industrial and agricultural activities significantly degrade soil quality.
- Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) pose risks to public health and ecosystems.
- Identifying contaminated sites for remediation is essential for environmental protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess soil quality and identify areas requiring remediation in the Avilés Estuary.
- To characterize Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) contamination using geochemical data and advanced analytical techniques.
- To develop a Bayesian Risk Index (BRI) for mapping and quantifying soil contamination risk.
Main Methods:
- Geochemical analysis of 230 soil samples for 14 elements across eight activity-defined zones.
- Stratified systematic sampling to capture spatial variability.
- Bayesian network analysis to identify key PTEs (Pb, As, Mn) and their correlations.
- Geostatistical modeling (Sequential Gaussian Simulations) and Local G clustering to map risk and uncertainty.
Main Results:
- High-risk soil contamination clusters were identified, primarily in agricultural/livestock zones at higher altitudes.
- Low spatial uncertainty associated with high-risk areas indicates a clear need for remediation.
- Atmospheric emissions from metallurgical industries were identified as a significant source of PTE soil contamination.
Conclusions:
- The Bayesian Risk Index effectively identifies and maps soil contamination hotspots.
- Agricultural areas, influenced by industrial atmospheric emissions, require urgent remediation efforts.
- Integrated geochemical and geostatistical approaches are crucial for effective environmental risk assessment and management.
Keywords:
Bayesian networksLocal G clusteringPotentially toxic elementsSequential Gaussian simulationMore Related Videos
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