Topographic control of emission loads from iron- and steelmaking in Třinec, Czech Republic caught by the Beskid slopes

Bílková, Gabriela; Matys Grygar, Tomáš; Elznicová, Jitka; Hýlová, Věra; Lučić, Mavro (2026) Topographic control of emission loads from iron- and steelmaking in Třinec, Czech Republic caught by the Beskid slopes. Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 21 (1). pp. 171-188. ISSN 18424090

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Abstract

The spatial distribution of risk elements and the impacts of acidification on mountain soils affected by anthropogenic emissions are poorly understood due to the limited number of corresponding case studies. This work examines the distribution of Ca, Mn, and Zn in topsoils of the mountain terrains of the Beskids along the eastern part of the Czech-Polish state border, which have been locally impacted by emissions of acid gases and dust from metallurgy in the 20th century. Samples of the top stratum of mineral soil horizons, rock fragments, and birch leaves were collected from 140 sites within an approximately 12 x 12 km area in mountain ridges and slopes, primarily covered by forests. Concentrations of Mn and Zn in soils and leaves were subjected to interelement correlations and spatial distribution analyses. Soil Mn and Zn concentrations were corrected using Fe as a lithogenic reference element to correct a part of natural geochemical variability of the bedrock. While topsoil Mn and Zn concentrations directly reflect contamination, the uptake of Mn and Zn by birch was also enhanced by low soil Ca levels. The probabilistic nature of the factors controlling soil contamination and the topographically-driven distribution of emission loads necessitate the use of less conventional data-mining tools. The variable probability that emission contamination has been really recorded in individual environmental samples requires the application of robust regression, quantile statistics, and/or rational data post-stratification. Visual examination of geochemical maps with quantile-classified layers and geographically weighted regression (GWR) proves advantageous in data mining, because conventional hotspot analysis using geostatistics is weakened by considerable spatial noise. Point contamination of the Beskid soils is maximal on slopes exposed to Třinec at a distance of approximately 15 km and at elevations between 600 and 700 m a.s.l. The spatial heterogeneity of soil Mn and Zn concentrations arises from uneven emission scavenging depending on landscape topography, horizontal emission deposition, and the translocation of Ca and Mn ions downslopes.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	emission deposition; soil contamination; acidification; mountain catenas; geochemical maps; biomonitoring
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Geology NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Depositing User:	Ana Zečević
Date Deposited:	20 May 2026 12:18
URI:	https://fulir.irb.hr:/id/eprint/11991
DOI:	10.26471/cjees/2026/021/361

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