o:10016 Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil of a Historical Mining Region in Serbia: Geochemical Fractionation, Ecological Impact, and Health Risk Assessment en Abstract: Natural metal enrichment, combined with centuries of mining activity in the Rudnik Mountain region of Serbia, has led to the long-term accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil. Although the investigated area lies outside the current zone of active exploitation, the persistence and mobility of accumulated PTEs, historical contamination can still affect the local population. This study integrated assessments of soil characterization, enrichment, sequential extraction-based fractionation, mobility, and bioavailability of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, as well as the associated ecological and human health risks. Geochemical and environmental pollution indices further identified As, Pb, and Cd as the main contributors to environmental risk. Sequential extraction results based on the BCR protocol indicated significant bioavailability of Cd (32% in the exchangeable fraction) and Pb (74% in the reducible fraction). In contrast, over 80% of As was present in the residual fraction, indicating limited mobility and low bioavailability. Health risk assessment for the local rural population revealed significant potential health concerns at the investigated sites, with exceedances of the hazard index (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) values, primarily associated with As as the main contributing pollutant. chemical partitioning; mining legacy; environmental indices; soil contamination; human exposure 1552099 10.3390/toxics14070608 2026-07-17T09:08:01.647Z 44 no 46 Almasa Lekpek 46 Svetlana Ðogo Mračević 46 Zoran Dinić Institute of Soil Science 0000-0003-4109-4106 46 Aleksandra Šajnović 46 Slavica Ražić 46 Milan Stanković 46 Branimir Jovančićević application/pdf 2685849 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:10016 no yes 1 70 92000001 71A05 Toxics 2026