Effects of persistent organic pollutants and mercury in protected area „Obrenovacki zabran”
This study aims to assess and monitor the health of an urban protected area by analyzing the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury (Hg) in soil and sediments. Based on the results, the detected concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and Hg are above the threshold maximum values for soils, and the prescribed target values for sediments. In the investigated protected area PCBs pose a very high ecological risk. The presence of 16 priority PAHs in analyzed soils and sediments poses a moderate to high cancer risk and Hg poses a considerable health risk to children. The research suggests that preserving urban protected areas is crucial for environmental and urban sustainability. In urban environments these areas should be evaluated in terms of their environmental, eco-geochemical, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions. The value of the existence of this natural oasis lies in its aesthetic and psycho-hydrological impact, local climate regulation, residential isolation, and significant art-architectural and horticultural shaping. The connection between eco-geochemical and management practices, planning, and urban green spaces policy should become an adopted innovation in the cities in the future.