Geochemical assessment of chemical pollutants in soil of Belgrade, Serbia: A case study of geogenic and anthropogenic influences

This study provides an integrated geochemical assessment of chemical pollutants in urban soil profiles (0-10 cm and 40-50 cm) collected across Belgrade, Serbia, during 2023. Ninety six samples were obtained by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Republic of Serbia (SEPA) from nine municipalities-including Stari Grad, Palilula, Zemun, Vracar, Cukarica, Novi Beograd, Rakovica, Vozdovac and Surcin-covering recreation areas, major road corridors, industrial zones, agricultural plots and sites near landfills and water supply facilities. Concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, As, Hg) and selected organic pollutants (BTEX, PAHs, PCBs, mineral oil fractions) were evaluated relative to national limit values. Most analytes remained below regulatory thresholds, yet notable exceedances occurred: Pb reached 333 mg kg-1 at Zemun and Cd 5.46 mg kg-1 at Surcin (both at 50 cm), while mineral oils peaked at 458 mg kg-1 in Stari Grad and PCBs surpassed limits at a Palilula water supply site. Depth dependent patterns indicated limited mobility for most metals, with Cd and Hg showing enrichment at 50 cm. Multivariate analysis distinguished an anthropogenic, traffic linked group (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Hg; BTEX, mineral oils) from a geogenic Ni-Cr group associated with Serbia’s serpentinite derived soils.