Influence of topography, Elevation, and Parent Materials on the Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Surface Soils: A Case Study in Northern Vietnam

Understanding the spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils is essential for environmental risk assessment, especially in mountainous regions with complex terrain and geology. This study analyzed arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in 641 soil samples collected across Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam. Samples were stratified by elevation, topography, and parent materials to assess their influence on PTE distribution. Statistical analyses (ANOVA and PCA) showed that As and Pb were significantly higher in lowland soils (2 for As and Pb suggested moderate anthropogenic inputs. PCA confirmed that topography, elevation, and parent material jointly shaped the spatial pattern of contamination. The findings provide an integrated framework for understanding soil contamination dynamics and support sustainable land management and pollution mitigation in upland agroecosystems.