The aims of this study were to verify the utilization of magnetic susceptibility measurements for the determination of contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) of urban soils in kindergartens in the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava, and to determine the concentrations of selected PTEs like As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in the soils. The results showed that the urban soils were contaminated mainly by Pb, Zn, Hg, and Cu with the concentrations between 11–183 mg·kg-1, 33–551 mg·kg-1, 0.024–0.431 mg·kg-1, and 9–67 mg·kg-1, respectively. Generally, the highest concentrations of PTEs were found in the soils of kindergartens that are located very close to roads with heavy traffic and in the oldest part of the city (1st district), whereas the lowest levels of PTEs were in residential areas (4th and 5th district). Significant correlation existed between the magnetic susceptibility and the levels of PTEs in urban soils, and indicated that the measurement of magnetic susceptibility might be a?useful tool for identification of trace metal contamination in urban soils of Bratislava.
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