Spatiotemporal Assessment of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Urban Soils: A Four-Year Monitoring Study in Thessaloniki, Greece (2021–2024)

Abstract

This study investigates the spatiotemporal distribution of heavy metals in urban soils of Thessaloniki, Greece, over a four-year monitoring period (2021–2024). A total of 664 soil samples were collected across diverse land-use types during both wet (winter) and dry (summer) seasons. Soil physicochemical properties were analyzed alongside cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) concentrations. The results reveal distinct, element-specific accumulation dynamics driven by continuous anthropogenic inputs. Statistical and geospatial analyses confirm that Cd exhibits a highly significant, progressive accumulation and spatial expansion toward residential areas. In contrast, Cu and Pb demonstrate a gradual, chronic enrichment, eventually reaching a saturation point where winter precipitation is insufficient to offset summer deposition. Zn presents as a severe but temporally stable contamination burden, anchored to the northwestern industrial–port sector. Furthermore, the alkaline properties of the local urban soils were found to act as an effective sink, immobilizing contaminants and preventing downward leaching. The Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) confirms a progressive decline in soil quality driven primarily by cadmium, while the other trace elements exhibit persistent, stable profiles. Overall, this study establishes a vital geochemical baseline of total heavy metal loading in Mediterranean urban soils, emphasizing the need for targeted emission controls and future mobile-fraction assessments to guide sustainable urban management.