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POTENTIAL IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY IN THE MIDDLE POVAZIE REGION IN SLOVAKIA ON THE HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS

Alena Vollmannová

Abstract

The Middle Povazie region belongs to 10 regions of the Slovakia with the most disturbed environment. Important industrial enterprises such as rubber plant, cement company and glassworks are the determining sources of the environment contamination in this region. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of potential Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cr and Co contamination of agricultural land in three localities near to emission sources. The samples of soil were collected from two dephts: 0 ? 0.10 m (A horizon) and 0.20 ? 0.30 m (B horizon) from the sampling points exactly fixed using GPS. In soil the agrochemical characteristics (pH/KCl, content of K, Mg, P, Ca and humus) as well as pseudototal content of heavy metals in soil extract by aqua regia and the content of bioavailable forms in soil extract by NH4NO3 (c = 1mol/L) were determined. The used analytical method was the flame AAS. Obtained results were evaluated according to legislation valid in the Slovak Republic and used for isolinear maps preparation. The average soil reaction in observed localities was neutral to acid, while medium humus supply, low to very high Mg, medium to high K and and good to very high P content in soil were determined. In all sampling sites the values of pseudototal Cd content in both of soil horizons and in several sampling sites also Ni and Co content values were higher than their hygienic limits given by the legislation. The average values of pseudototal soil content of these metals in A (B horizon) in mg/kg were in followed range: Cd 0.86-1.09 (0.83-1.16); Ni 32.33-55.91 (33.07-55.63 and Co 9.34-16.0 (9.27-15.89). In all sampling sites the content of mobile Pb forms in both of soil horizons was higher than the critical value given by the legislation. The average content of bioavailable forms of Pb in mg/kg in A (B horizon) was in interval 0.193-0.212 (0.185-0.213). These facts indicate the soil contamination. Our results suggest the potentially casual connection among enhanced contents of heavy metals in agricultural soils in the vicinity of emission sources and the industrial activity in the Stredne Povazie region.

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