Heavy Metals Contamination in Soils of a Small Town with Intensive Road Traffic

摘要

There is very little information on soil pollution in small towns in Poland. This research was conducted in 2010 to determine the degree of soil contamination by select heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr) in Grajewo - a small town with intensive road traffic in northeastern Poland. Analyzed soils were mostly alkaline and characterized by very low clay fraction and humus content, which makes them not resistant to heavy metals contamination. According to the guideline established by IUNG and regulations of the minister of the environment concerning the standards for soil quality and land quality, the top layers of analyzed soils (0-20 cm) were polluted by cadmium, mostly at a low level (class Ⅱ). Increased content (class Ⅰ) in a substantial part of the town was also found in the case of nickel. The concentrations of lead, cobalt, copper, and chromium in soils generally corresponded to the natural content. The content of almost all determined heavy metals was correlated, which may indicate the same source of origin.