Publication detail

Polluted brownfield site converted into a public urban park: A place providing ecosystem services or a hidden health threat?

PECINA, V. JUŘIČKA, D. VAŠINOVÁ GALIOVÁ, M. KYNICKÝ, J. BALÁKOVÁ, L. BRTNICKÝ, M.

Original Title

Polluted brownfield site converted into a public urban park: A place providing ecosystem services or a hidden health threat?

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

The conversion of old brownfield sites into places once again serving society is becoming an upward global trend, especially in urban areas. Due to the increasingly growing pressure on the expansion of urban green spaces, such sites can become, for instance, urban parks. The aim of the study was to assess whether the solution is appropriate and if it does not pose a potential health risk. Heavy pollution of soils was found out by means of the example of the urban park newly established in a reclaimed area of a historic mining town. The high average values in the topsoil were found out mainly in As (132 mg/kg), Cd (6.8 mg/kg), Pb (535 mg/kg) and Zn (1604 mg/kg). The assessment of the non-carcinogenic health risk has revealed possible As-related adverse health effects in children even at irregular park visits. According to the carcinogenic risk assessment, As, Cd, Cr and Ni can be ranked in the category of an acceptable total risk for regulatory purposes. The health status of park vegetation as a significant component of the urban ecosystem was also assessed. Soil phytotoxicity brought about severe damage to the seedlings, with a mortality rate of up to 84% locally. The results indicate that heavily polluted brownfield sites with historic mining-related activities are not suitable for establishing urban parks even after reclamation and nature-based solutions may not be invariably appropriate. Based on the findings, the management steps that ought to be implemented in the process of brownfield redevelopment into the urban park even after its establishment have been highlighted in order to minimize the health risk to park visitors while providing the required ecosystem services by vegetation.

Keywords

Urban park; Landscape reclamation; Phytotoxicity; Health risk assessment; Potentially toxic elements; Pollution

Authors

PECINA, V.; JUŘIČKA, D.; VAŠINOVÁ GALIOVÁ, M.; KYNICKÝ, J.; BALÁKOVÁ, L.; BRTNICKÝ, M.

Released

1. 8. 2021

ISBN

0301-4797

Periodical

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Year of study

291

Number

112669

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages from

1

Pages to

10

Pages count

10

URL

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479721007313

BibTex

@article{BUT172062,
  author="PECINA, V. and JUŘIČKA, D. and VAŠINOVÁ GALIOVÁ, M. and KYNICKÝ, J. and BALÁKOVÁ, L. and BRTNICKÝ, M.",
  title="Polluted brownfield site converted into a public urban park: A place providing ecosystem services or a hidden health threat?",
  journal="JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT",
  year="2021",
  volume="291",
  number="112669",
  pages="1--10",
  doi="10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112669",
  issn="0301-4797",
  url="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479721007313"
}