Pollution assessment of potentially toxic elements in soils of different taxonomy orders in central Greece.

Four hundred fifty soil samples of the orders of Alfisols, Inceptisols, Endisols, and Vertisols from Karditsa, Trikala, and Larissa (Central Greece) were collected over a three-year period. In these samples we analyzed potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and soil properties known to affect their mobility. High regression coefficients were observed between soil pH and PTE concentrations in Alfisols, reflecting that soil pH is the dominant characteristic influencing PTEs. In Inceptisols, there was a significant interaction among the studied PTEs, probably due to PTEs having the same origin. The Endisol samples had high sand content and electrical conductivity values, resulting in high availability of all studied PTEs. In Vertisols, clay content proved to be the most important parameter influencing PTE levels. Factor analysis was also used in order to clarify the possible sources of metals in the studied areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]