Environmental hazard of soil contamination by heavy metals

Abstract

Pollution of the natural environment of the city with heavy metals (HM) from various sources receives much attention. They accumulate, exceeding the background level, cause pollution of the surface of the soil cover, vegetation, natural waters. It should be noted that their accumulation turns soils into a source of secondary pollution of natural environments and poses a threat to human health. In this regard, the monitoring studies, in addition to the traditional control of the HM content in soils, should assess the trend of changes in the level of pollution and their consequences. The object of research is soils, subject to varying degrees of anthropogenic burden. The analysis revealed a significant variation in all studied elements, which indicates a negative trend of their gradual increase. The average content of HMs was found not extreme but the rate of their accumulation raises concerns. An excess of MPC was found along highways (up to 500 m), from the railway (up to 20 m): Pb by 1.25–3 times; Cd - 1.65; Ni - 1.69-1.81; on the adjacent territory to the gas station by 1.37 times for copper, and 3.45 times for lead, which indicates the danger of pollution of the urban environment.