The effect of heavy metal pollution on urban ecosystem and the evaluation of different land classifications; in Bingöl city/Turkey
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 26 February 2021
Issue publication date: 20 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
One of the problems that urbanization creates on the ecosystem is the increase of heavy metal accumulation of the urban lands. Due to constant urbanization and industrialization in many parts of the world, metals are constantly spreading to the environment and pose a great threat to human health. The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of heavy metal accumulation values of the lands located in Bingöl city center on the urban ecosystem by examining them in terms of zonal and land-use classification.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted on 30 samples taken from five zones and six land-use classes (traffic area-TA, school area-SA, commercial-industry area-CA, green space-GS, residential area-RA and open space-OS). Heavy metal deposits of soil samples were determined in accredited laboratories using the Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) device. The study employed the SPSS program for statistical analysis of laboratory results, and ArcGIS Pro programs were used to determine spatial pollution distribution.
Findings
Although the heavy metal contents of soil samples pose no problems in terms of national and international standards, a number of zones carry risks for the future. In the analyzes, traffic and settlement area soils in terms of land-use classifications and Zone 5 soils in terms of zonal distribution were determined as ecologically risky areas.
Originality/value
The study provided suggestions on what should be done to use the results of the research in planning the physical development of the city.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The study was supported by the BUBAP Project No. BAP-ZF.2018.00.011. The authors would like to thank Bingöl University for their financial and moral support for the project.
Citation
Vural, H., Akbana, A. and Meral, A. (2021), "The effect of heavy metal pollution on urban ecosystem and the evaluation of different land classifications; in Bingöl city/Turkey", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 32 No. 5, pp. 886-901. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-09-2020-0193
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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