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SOIL CONTAMINATION IN SELECTED REGIONS OF SLOVAKIA CAUSED BY HEAVY METALS
Abstract
Soil contamination is one of the most serious environmental problems. The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of soil by hazardous metals in 5 regions of Slovakia. Overall 152 samples (soil + plant) were collected from 76 sampling sites in investigated regions. In all samples contents of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd were determined. In soil samples the total contents of risky elements in extracts by aqua regia as well as contents of bioavailable forms in extracts by NH4NO3 (c=1 mol/L) were determined. The potato tubers were analyzed as plant material. The content of hazardous metals were determined in lyophilized samples. Environmental risk was evaluated based on calculated values of contamination factor (Cf), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential index of environmental risk (PER). The determined contents of Cu, Zn and Ni (both of forms) were almost in all sampling sites lower than the maximum allowed amounts for these elements. Total Pb content was lower than 70 mg/kg (the limit value). About 85% samples contained more Cd than the limit value for this metal. The highest Cd content (4.03 mg/kg) was determined in soil samples from Orava region. Contents of bioavailable Pb forms (71 sampling sites, maximum 0.64 mg/kg) as well as Cd forms (36 sampling sites, maximum 0.5 mg/kg) were higher than critical values. The highest average Cf values for Cd were in range 5.58 ? 15.3 which means a very high contamination factor. The average values Igeo were in range Igeo ? 0 (background values for Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb) to Igeo ? 3 (moderately contaminated for Cd). Based on average PER values the level of soil pollution can be characterized as the high to very high risk. To estimate the degree of agricultural production bioaccumulation factors were calculated. The values given by relation of content of element in plants to its in soil were in interval 0 ? 1.84.
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