This study presents an analysis of soil contamination caused by Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, with a focus on ecological risk assessment. The approach aims to assess how different landfill practices and environmental conditions affect soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and associated environmental risks. Soil samples were collected from MSW landfills in Poland and the Czech Republic. The research included a comprehensive assessment of PTEs in soils in the context of global environmental regulations. The degree of soil contamination by PTEs was assessed using indices: Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Single Pollution Index (Pi), Nemerow Pollution Index (PN), and Load Capacity of a Pollutant (PLI). The ecological risk was determined using the Risk of PTEs (ERi) and Sum of Individual Potential Risk Factors (ERI). The maximum values of the indicators observed for the Radiowo landfill were as follows: Igeo = 4.04 for Cd, Pi = 24.80 for Cd, PN = 18.22 for Cd, PLI = 2.66, ERi = 744 for Cd, ERI = 771.80. The maximum values of the indicators observed for the Zdounky landfill were as follows: Igeo = 1.04 for Cu, Pi = 3.10 for Cu, PN = 2.52 for Cu, PLI = 0.27, ERi = 25 for Cd, ERI = 41.86. The soils of the tested landfills were considered to be non-saline, with electrical conductivity (EC) values less than 2,000 μS/cm. Varying levels of PTEs were observed, and geostatistical analysis highlighted hotspots indicating pollution sources. Elevated concentrations of Cd in the soil indicated potential ecological risks. Concentrations of Cu and lead Pb were well below the thresholds set by the environmental legislation in several countries. In addition, Ni concentrations in the soils of both landfills indicated that the average levels were within acceptable limits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed common sources of PTEs. The identification of specific risk points at the Radiowo and Zdounky sites contributes to a better understanding of potential hazards in landfill environments. By establishing buffer zones and implementing regular maintenance programs, emerging environmental problems can be addressed in a timely manner.

• MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• odpadky - odstraňování MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• skládková zařízení * MeSH
• těžké kovy analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• tuhý odpad analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Polsko MeSH

This study investigates human health risks associated with heavy metals (HMs) occurrence in municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. For testing of selected MSW landfills steps were involved, including site characterization, soil sampling and chemical testing, statistical analysis, as well as health risk assessment, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. For the Polish landfill (Radiowo) the average HMs concentrations were found in the following order: Zn (52.74 mg/kg DM) > Pb (28.32 mg/kg DM) > Cu (12.14 mg/kg DM) > Ni (4.50 mg/kg DM) > Cd (3.49 mg/kg DM), while for the Czech landfill (Zdounky): Zn (32.05 mg/kg DM) > Cu (14.73 mg/kg DM) > Ni (4.73 mg/kg DM) > Pb (0.10 mg/kg DM) = Cd (0.10 mg/kg DM). Strong positive correlations between selected HMs demonstrated identical origins. Principal component analysis (PCA) performed for the Radiowo landfill transferred the soil parameters into three principal components (PCs), accounting for 87.12% of the total variance. The results of the PCA analysis for the Zdounky landfill revealed three PCs responsible for 95.16% of the total variance. The exposure pathways of HMs for landfills were in the following order: ingestion > dermal absorption > inhalation. For both landfills, the values of hazard quotient were lower than 1, indicating no potential negative health effects. In terms of the hazard index (HI), for both landfills, no adverse human health effects occur (HI < 1). The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values indicated negligible or acceptable carcinogenic risk of HMs (average ILCR in the range from 5.01E-10 to 5.19E-06).

• Klíčová slova
• Carcinogenic effects, Heavy metals, PCA analysis, Pollution, Spatial distribution, Waste management,
• MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• kadmium analýza   MeSH
• karcinogeny analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * toxicita   analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• olovo analýza   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• skládková zařízení MeSH
• těžké kovy * toxicita   analýza   MeSH
• tuhý odpad analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Čína MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kadmium MeSH
• karcinogeny MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• půda MeSH
• těžké kovy * MeSH
• tuhý odpad MeSH