Publication detail

Environmental impact assessment of risk elements from railway transport with the use of pollution indices, a biotest and bioindicators

Maja Radziemskaa Zygmunt M. Gusiatinb Piotr Kowalc Agnieszka Bes Grzegorz Majewskia Anna Jeznach-Steinhagene Zbigniew Mazurd Ernesta Liniauskiene Martin Brtnický

Original Title

Environmental impact assessment of risk elements from railway transport with the use of pollution indices, a biotest and bioindicators

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

The paper evaluates the accumulation of selected risk elements in soils and biological tissues caused by railway transport. Samples of soil, pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) bark and needles, hoof fungus (Fomes fomentarius L.) and red-stemmed feathermoss (Pleurozium schreberi L.) were analyzed for the content of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. The samples were collected in five sites (A, B, C, D, E each separated by 500 m) covering a combined distance of around 2 km along railway tracks (Central Poland). The geo-accumulation index (I-geo), single pollution index (PI), contamination factor (Cf), degree of contamination (C-deg), potential ecological risk (RI), and the probability of toxicity (MERMQ) index were calculated to determine soil pollution with risk elements. Soil toxicity was assessed with the Phytotoxkit biotest which measures the inhibition of seed germination and root growth in Sorghum saccharatum L. The calculated indices and the results of the phytotoxicity biotest revealed the highest levels of contamination in the proximity of a road overpass (site D). The accumulation of risk elements in soil was strongly correlated with pollutant levels in biological tissues. Zinc was the most abundant element in biological tissues, especially in pine bark and feathermoss. Soil pollution indices, biotest results, and plant and fungus bioindicators play an important role in environmental assessments of railway transport.

Keywords

Railway line; environmental risk; risk elements; pollution indices; Phytotoxkit; scot pine; hoof fungus; red-stemmed feathermoss

Authors

Maja Radziemskaa; Zygmunt M. Gusiatinb; Piotr Kowalc; Agnieszka Bes; Grzegorz Majewskia; Anna Jeznach-Steinhagene; Zbigniew Mazurd; Ernesta Liniauskiene; Martin Brtnický

Released

11. 3. 2020

Publisher

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Location

PHILADELPHIA

ISBN

1080-7039

Periodical

HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT

Year of study

1

Number

1

State

United States of America

Pages from

1

Pages to

24

Pages count

24

URL

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10807039.2020.1736984?needAccess=true

BibTex

@article{BUT167893,
  author="Maja Radziemskaa and Zygmunt M. Gusiatinb and Piotr Kowalc and Agnieszka Bes and Grzegorz Majewskia and Anna Jeznach-Steinhagene and Zbigniew Mazurd and Ernesta Liniauskiene and Martin Brtnický",
  title="Environmental impact assessment of risk elements from railway transport with the use of pollution indices, a biotest and bioindicators",
  journal="HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT",
  year="2020",
  volume="1",
  number="1",
  pages="1--24",
  doi="10.1080/10807039.2020.1736984",
  issn="1080-7039",
  url="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10807039.2020.1736984?needAccess=true"
}