Summary:
The year 2021 was an extreme year for wildfires in Greece, which resulted in the most
widespread, burned area since the historically bad year of 2007. Just one month after
the fire, which broke out in August 2021 in northern Evia, 13 soil samples were
collected from a depth of 15-30cm from an extensive network of stations covering the
entire affected area. The study area included areas of the municipalities of IstiaiaiaAidipsos and Mantoudi-Limni-Agia Anna. The pH, the redox potential Eh, the organic
carbon content and the pseudo-total content of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Co, As,
using aqua regia were determined. In the solutions obtained by leaching of soil
samples with natural mineral water and natural surface water, the concentration and
leachability percentage of the above elements were determined. Comparisons made
with surveys of fire-affected areas with similar lithology and vegetation, also treated
with aqua regia, showed comparable results. Almost all the soil quality thresholds on
which the research was based agree that the median Ni concentration is significantly
high. The water quality limits for human usage on which the research was based
agree that the median values of the concentrations of the chemical elements will not
pose a serious risk if leached and consumed by a living organism.
Keywords:
forest fires, leaching tests, soil quality, n. euboea
