Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Air pollution is a major environmental problem in Indonesia. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) which bounded to particulate matter (PM) samples were collected from Maros karst area, the second largest karst in the world. The seasonal levels of PTEs and ecological risk assessment were used to investigate the pollution levels near the residential areas using pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (PERI). Spatial distributions of ecological risks based on the PTEs concentration have been explored with Empirical Bayesian Kriging method. The result indicated the mean concentration of PTEs (Cr, Pb, Cu, As and Zn) were significantly higher in dry season than wet season. Based on the PERI and PLI values, the PTEs accumulation are more severe near industrial activities and traffic roads. Hotspots of the PTEs were located in the East and Southeast area. The implications of this study could be used to optimize the management strategies in controlling the PTEs pollution and become a scientific reference for taking environmental protection policies.