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PRESENT ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 5, no.2, 2011
HEAVY METALS ABUNDANCE IN THE SOILS OF THE
PANTELIMON – BRĂNEŞTI AREA, ILFOV COUNTY: IRON,
MANGANESE, NICKEL, LEAD, ZINC
Radu Lăcătuşu1, Mihaela Lungu
2, Sofia Teodorescu
3,
Mihaela Monica Stanciu-Burileanu2, Anca Rovena Lăcătuşu
2,
Venera Mihaela Stroe2, Rodica Lazăr2, Nineta Rizea2
Keywords: soils, heavy metals, geochemical abundance, pedo-geochemical
abundance.
Abstract. More than 20 years later, a new research on heavy metals (iron,
manganese, nickel, lead, zinc) contents in the soil cover of the Pantelimon –
Brăneşti area located East of the Bucharest Municipality and exposed for several
decades to the influence of industrial emissions from two non-ferrous metallurgy
plants is presented. A 5,912.72 ha area was investigated, 544 samples taken by
geometric horizons (0-20; 20-40; 40-60 cm) from 215 points have been analyzed.
The dominant soils are: Preluvosols, Chernozems, and Phaeozems. The total
manganese, nickel, and zinc contents of the analyzed soils are lower than their
average contents in the lithosphere, while the lead content is 2.3 times higher. As
compared to the average contents of the World’s soils the contents of the four heavy
metals in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area are much higher: 1.32 (zinc); 1.45
(manganese); 2.00 (nickel), and 2.43 (lead) times. The polluting chemical element of
the area is lead. The iron and manganese contents frequency histograms are
symmetric, while those of the nickel, lead, and zinc are asymmetric with right
asymmetry. The tendency maps of the heavy metals distribution in the analyzed
soils shows the insular character of the high contents generated by the polluting
emissions nature, by the dominant winds direction, by the micro relief, and by the
vegetation structure.
Introduction In the Pantelimon-Brăneşti area, located in the Bucharest Municipality Eastern
part, where the by-pass road meets the national highway 3 Bucharest – Fundulea –
Lehliu, two industrial facilities functioned for many years with a non-ferrous metallurgy profile. One of them made auto accumulators and was also recovering
1 Prof. PhD., Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, [email protected]
2 Sen. Res. PhD., NRDISSAEP, Bucharest, [email protected]
3 PhD., Valahia University, Târgovişte
R. Lăcătuşu, Lungu, Teodorescu, Stanciu, A.-R. Lăcătuşu, Stroe, Lazăr, Rizea 196
lead from the disabled ones. The industrial emissions of these two plants
contributed to environment pollution, including the soil in which higher heavy
metals quantities accumulated.
Researches carried out by Răuţă et al. (1978, 1980) highlighted the lead, zinc,
and copper soil and cultivated plants pollution levels. Later Lăcătuşu et al. (2000)
established the surface distribution of total lead and copper contents in the 0-20 cm
layer of the area, presented the statistical parameters of the area cadmium, cobalt,
chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc total contents, and tested this soil pollution at different fertilization levels effect on alfalfa, soybean, and salad
plants growth.
The diminution of the two plants industrial activity after 1990, up to clearance, brought about the diminution of the polluting impact.
The present paper intends to highlight the content level of five heavy metals
(iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc) from the soils of the maximum pollution influenced area two decades after the activity diminution and the improvement of
the emissions filtering system.
In a recent paper (Lăcătuşu et al., 2011a) the abundance of other heavy metals
(cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and copper) in the soils of the same area is presented.
1. Material and method The investigated territory (Figure 1) is bordered by the Bucharest
Municipality by-pass road to the West, by a line that would go through the Moara
Domnească and Găneasa localities to the South, by the Cozieni and Brăneşti localities Western limits to the north-East and East, by the A2 Highway to the
South East, and by the 301 communal road to the South-West.
The investigated area has a 5,916.72 ha surface. Approximately 1/3 of the soil is dedicated to agriculture for field crops and 2/3 to forestry.
In order to determine the soil types pedology profiles have been made out of
which soil samples were taken from genetic horizons, and to establish the heavy
metals abundance soil samples were taken from geometric horizons (0-20; 20-40;
and 40-60 cm). 544 soil samples were taken from 215 points (Figure 2). The
samples were analyzed both from the general physical and chemical properties
point of view and of the total heavy metals (cadmium, cobalt, chromium, and
copper) contents. The latter were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry.
The analytical data were statistically computed, and the spreading (minimum value, maximum value, coefficient of variation, standard deviation) and grouping
centre parameters (arithmetic mean, geometric mean, median, and module) were
highlighted.
Tendency maps were drawn of the heavy metals distribution using the Surfer
soft.
Heavy metals abundance in the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area 197
The values of the geochemical and pedo-geochemical indexes were computed
after the Lăcătuşu and Ghelase (1992) method.
Fig. 1 – The researched area location
Fig. 2 – The soil sampling points location
R. Lăcătuşu, Lungu, Teodorescu, Stanciu, A.-R. Lăcătuşu, Stroe, Lazăr, Rizea 198
2. Results and discussions2.1. General characterization of the soil cover. Field and laboratory
investigations lead to drawing up the soil map of the investigated territory (Figure
3). Soils of three taxonomic classes can be noticed: Chernisols, Luvisols, and
Hydrosols. The first class comprises Cambic Chernozem, Argic Chernozem, and
Phaeozioms, and the second one comprises red Mollic Preluvosols, Red
Preluvosols, Vertic Preluvosols, and Planic, or Gleyic Stagnic Luvosols. Hydrosols
occur on small areas and are represented by Mollic Gleysols and Vertic Luvic Stagnosols.
PANTELIMON – BRĂNEŞTI AREA
SOIL MAP
L E G E N D
CHERNISOLS (CER)
LUVOSOLS (LUV)
HYDROSOLS (HID)
Cambic Chernozems (CZcb)
Cambic Chernozems, eroded (CZcb, er)
Argic Chernozems (Czar)
Argic Chernozems, eroded (CZ ar, er)
Gleyic Phaeozioms (FZgc)
Red Mollic Preluvosols (Elmo-ro)
Red Mollic Preluvosols, eroded (Elmo-ro, er)
Red Preluvosols (Elro)
Red Preluvosols, eroded (Elro, er)
Slightly luvic Red Preluvosols (Elro, lv)
Gleyic Stagnic Vertic Preluvosols (Elvr-st-gc)
Gleyic plannic Stagnic Luvosols (LVst-pl-gc)
Plannic Stagnic Luvosols (LVst-pl)
Mollic Gleyosols (GSmp)
Vertic Luvic Stagnosols (SGlv-vs)
Other signs
Road
Railroad
Urban area
Lakes
PANTELIMON – BRĂNEŞTI AREA
SOIL MAP
L E G E N D
CHERNISOLS (CER)
LUVOSOLS (LUV)
HYDROSOLS (HID)
Cambic Chernozems (CZcb)
Cambic Chernozems, eroded (CZcb, er)
Argic Chernozems (Czar)
Argic Chernozems, eroded (CZ ar, er)
Gleyic Phaeozioms (FZgc)
Red Mollic Preluvosols (Elmo-ro)
Red Mollic Preluvosols, eroded (Elmo-ro, er)
Red Preluvosols (Elro)
Red Preluvosols, eroded (Elro, er)
Slightly luvic Red Preluvosols (Elro, lv)
Gleyic Stagnic Vertic Preluvosols (Elvr-st-gc)
Gleyic plannic Stagnic Luvosols (LVst-pl-gc)
Plannic Stagnic Luvosols (LVst-pl)
Mollic Gleyosols (GSmp)
Vertic Luvic Stagnosols (SGlv-vs)
Other signs
Road
Railroad
Urban area
Lakes
Fig. 3 – Pantelimon – Brăneşti soil map
Some of the Chernozems and Preluvosols have a certain erosion degree. Red
Preluvosols and Argic Chernozems are predominant.
The values of the main physical and chemical properties of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils are presented in Table 1. Relatively close values can be noticed
for the clay (< 2 µ) content in Preluvosols and Chernozems; the Vertic Stagnosol has higher clay content, namely 41.8%. All these values stand for a clay-loam
texture.
The average values of the bulk density vary in a 1.46-1.78 g/cm3 interval,
most of them between 1.46 and 1.52 g/cm3, which signifies a high and very high
bulk density for the values over 1.59 g/cm3.
Heavy metals abundance in the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area 199
Therefore, the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area have a clay-loam texture
and a high and very high bulk density.
Tab. 1 – The main physical and chemical properties of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
(0-60 cm) PAL KAL
Soil type Localization
Clay
< 2 µ%
BD g/cm3 OHpH
2
Humus %
Nt % mg·kg-1
Red Preluvosol,
slightly luvic 1 km W Brăneşti
∗∗
∗−
1.34
5.359.26
49.1
62.130.1 −
4.5
9.57.4 −
64.2
70.380.0 −
175.0
373.0072.0 −
44
4938 −
123
130105−
Mollic Red
Preluvosol NW Cernica
0.34
0.371.31 −
46.1
57.131.1 −
5.6
7.63.6 −
07.2
40.260.1 −
131.0
137.0125.0 −
9
134 −
146
159130 −
Red Preluvosol N Pantelimon 6.35
7.399.29 −
51.1
66.137.1 −
8.5
5.64.5 −
35.2
07.345.1 −
150.0
163.0130.0 −
17
2311 −
150
180120 −
Stagnic Luvosol E Pantelimon 3.34
1.410.29 −
59.1
65.145.1 −
8.5
1.67.5 −
35.2
28.290.0 −
092.0
119.0061.0 −
12
149 −
122
14894 −
Luvic Vertic Stagnosol
E Pantelimon 8.41
5.494.30 −
78.1
82.170.1 −
7.6
2.71.6 −
42.1
20.200.1 −
085.0
104.0074.0 −
52
6340 −
156
163140 −
Cambic
Chernozem N Cernica
9.36
0.381.36 −
52.1
62.142.1 −
5.7
8.73.7 −
30.3
10.440.1 −
204.0
209.0199.0 −
129
17583 −
222
374259 −
Argic
Chernozem N Brăneşti
9.37
0.390.36 −
67.1
84.141.1 −
8.6
1.72.6 −
10.3
00.420.2 −
191.0
211.0146.0 −
40
5030 −
333
355304 −
* Values interval ** Arithmetic mean
From the chemical point of view the fact is noticed that the Chernozems have
a reaction interval relatively wide, from slightly acid to neutral, but the pH values
specific to the neutral domain are predominant. Unlike the Chernozems, the Preluvosols, the Stagnic Luvosol, and the Vertic Luvosol reaction belongs to the
moderate – slightly acid domain.
The humus content, assessed in dependence with the texture, is low both in Preluvosols and in Chernozems. The total nitrogen content is very low in Luvosol
and Stagnosol, low and medium in Preluvosols, and medium in Chernozems. The
phosphorus and potassium mobile forms supply depends on the mineral
fertilization level. Thus, phosphorus supply is low in the Stagnic Luvosol and in
some Preluvosols (Table 1), but high in another Red Preluvosol, in the Stagnosol,
and in Chernozems. The mobile potassium, with values of 122-222 mg·kg-1
,
oscillates in a large domain which also defines a various supply, from low to very
high.
2.2. The iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc abundance in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils. The statistical parameters of the total heavy
metals contents (Tables 2 and 3) highlight differences between the chemical
elements as regards their accumulation in one studied horizon or another. Thus, the higher mobility of the elements with variable valence such as iron and manganese
determines their accumulation at a bigger depth namely iron at 40-60 cm and
manganese at 20-40 cm (Table 2). On the other hand, the other three analyzed
R. Lăcătuşu, Lungu, Teodorescu, Stanciu, A.-R. Lăcătuşu, Stroe, Lazăr, Rizea 200
heavy metals (zinc, lead, and nickel) accumulated in the first geometric horizon,
down to 20 cm depth.
The great content differences between the first and the third layers, namely
15.4 mg·kg-1
for Zn and 22.4 mg·kg-1
for lead, as compared to only 6.0 mg·kg-1
for
nickel, lead to the conclusion of an anthropic source presence contributing to the
abundance of zinc and lead in the investigated area’s soils. The finding is
consistent with the results of previous researches carried out by Răuţă et al. (1978,
1980) and Lăcătuşu et al. (2000) which highlighted the lead and zinc soil pollution around the two industrial units, on much smaller surface.
Tab. 2 – The statistical parameters of the total heavy metals (iron and manganese) total
contents (mg·kg-1) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils Fe Mn Depth,
cm
Statis-
tical
parameters
0-20 20-40 40-60 0-60 0-20 20-40 40-60 0-60
n 224 103 216 543 224 103 216 543
xmin
xmax
12,385
46,434
20,296
30,387
12,344
33,669 12,344
46,434
312
1,039
547
990
246
1,566 246
1,566
xσ
22,363
3,030
25,040
1,930
23,021
3,245
24,480
3,419
758
132
776
98
645
124
716
136
cv (%) 14 8 12 14 17 13 19 19
Me
Mo
22,350
22,090
25,755
26,083
26,369
26,912 24,346
24,550
767
804
782
798
653
639 713
710
Tab. 3 – The statistical parameters of the total heavy metals (chromium and copper) total
contents (mg·kg-1) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils Zn Pb Ni Depth,
cm
Statis-
tical
parameters
0-20 20-40 40-60 0-60 0-20 20-40 40-60 0-60 0-20 20-40 40-60 0-60
n 224 103 216 543 224 103 216 543 224 103 216 543
xmin
xmax
44.3
114.5
45.2
87.6
35.7
98.5 35.7
114.5
15.7
190.7
20.1
49.5
10.3
93.7 10.3
190.7
23.6
98.3
21.5
46.5
24.6
55.9 21.5
98.3
xσ
74.5
11.4
64.8
8.7
59.1
8.6 66.5
12.1
47.2
22.9
33.7
8.3
24.8
9.4 35.7
19.1
44.3
14.9
37.5
4.5
38.3
4.4 40.6
10.6
cv (%) 15 13 15 18 49 25 38 54 34 12 11 26
Me
Mo
72.9
71.0
65.6
66.2
59.1
59.0 64.5
61.5
39.3
35.9
33.9
40.5
22.7
23.9 32.3
28.7
38.5
36.4
38.2
38.9
38.6
39.2 38.5
38.7
The frequency histograms of the heavy metals distribution (figures 4, 5, and 6)
clearly highlight the symmetric iron and manganese distribution and the
asymmetric distribution, with a right asymmetry, of nickel, lead, and zinc. If the values of these heavy metals soil normal contents and the alarm
threshold value for a land sensitive use are taken into account we find that most of
Heavy metals abundance in the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area 201
the manganese values are inferior to the normal soil contents and much lower than
the alarm threshold for a land sensitive use (Figure 4). The same image is given by
the zinc distribution frequency histograms (Figure 6). Therefore, the analyzed soils
are not polluted with manganese or zinc.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
12.000 20.000 28.000 36.000 44.000
Fe, mg.kg-1
Fre
quency,
%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
200 400 600 800 1.000 1.200 1.400 1.600
Mn, mg.kg-1
Fre
quency,
%
Fig. 4 – The frequency histograms of the heavy metals (iron and manganese) distribution in the
Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
0-20 cm; 20-40 cm; 40-60 cm; 0-60 cm
normal content; Alarm threshold for a sensitive land use (MAPPM Order
756/1997)
0
10
20
30
40
50
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Ni, mg.kg
Fre
que
ncy,
%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Pb, mg.kg-1
Fre
quency,
%
Fig. 5 – The frequency histograms of the heavy metals (nickel and lead) distribution in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
0-20 cm; 20-40 cm; 40-60 cm; 0-60 cm
normal content; Alarm threshold for a sensitive land use ; Intervention
threshold for a sensitive land use (MAPPM Order 756/1997)
The nickel analytical data range in the interval between the soil normal content value and the value of the alarm threshold for a sensitive land use. Only a
few values exceed the alarm threshold value. These ones proceed from the soil
R. Lăcătuşu, Lungu, Teodorescu, Stanciu, A.-R. Lăcătuşu, Stroe, Lazăr, Rizea 202
samples collected from around the industrial zone. Most of the points are ordered
on curves placed in the half-interval close to the normal content domain.
As regards the lead, this chemical element reached the investigated area’s
soils especially airborne, from the industrial emissions. The frequency histograms
cover all the domains bounded both by the normal values and by those of the
intervention threshold for a sensitive land use (Figure 5). Most of the values are
ordered on both sides of the alarm threshold for a sensitive land use. Therefore, it
can be stated that the polluting element of the area was lead.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Zn, mg.kg-1
Fre
quency,
%
Fig. 6 – The frequency histograms of the zinc distribution in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
0-20 cm; 20-40 cm; 40-60 cm; 0-60 cm
normal content
2.3. The geochemical and pedo-geochemical abundance of manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti areal. The values of the
geochemical abundance (IGA) and pedo-geochemical abundance (IPAg) indexes show the place of the analyzed chemical elements as compared to their general
pedospheric and lithospheric abundance. The values higher than 1 of these indexes
show that the soils of the investigated area have higher quantities of a certain chemical element than its average lithospheric or pedospheric content. The values
lower than 1 show that the chemical element is to be found at lower content levels
than those of the lithosphere or pedosphere.
Thus, the values of Table 4 show that the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
contain less manganese, nickel, and zinc than these chemical elements litospheric
concentration. Unlike them there is 2.28 times more lead in the analyzed soils than its average concentration in the lithosphere.
All the values higher than 1 of the pedo-geochemical abundance index of the
four heavy metals show that the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area contain 1.45 more manganese, 2.0 times more nickel, 2.43 times more lead, and 1.32 times
more zinc than these elements’ average contents in the World’s soils. The
Heavy metals abundance in the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area 203
explanation is simple, the polluting impact of the two non-ferrous metallurgy units
which functioned several decades in the area. The polluting emissions had different
intensities from one chemical element to another. Besides the anthropogenic factor
the geogenic factor significantly contributed to the general chemical elements
abundance.
Tab. 4 – The geochemical and pedo-geochemical abundance indexes values (IGA and
IPAg) of the total heavy metals from the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
Chemical
element
Index Mn Ni Pb Zn
IGA 0.73 0.69 2.28 0.79
IPAg 1.45 2.00 2.43 1.32
2.4. The area distribution of the heavy metals. The tendency maps of the five heavy metals distribution (Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) clearly highlight the areas
with the lowest or the highest chemical elements contents in the first soil horizon
(0-20 cm).
The iron, with values of over 4,000 mg·kg-1, is to be found in the central-
Southern part of the area, where hydrosols occur. In reduction conditions the iron
mobility increases, and it passes from Fe3+
to Fe2+
, and it migrates both vertically
and horizontally. This explains the increased abundance in insular surfaces. The
anthropic, industrial influence mustn’t be overlooked which could increase the iron
content of the North-Western corner of the investigated surface (Figure 5). The geochemical and pedo-geochemical behavior of the manganese is similar
to the iron one as they both are chemical elements with variable valences. The
arrangement of the insular surfaces with higher manganese concentrations, of over 800 mg·kg-1, could be linked to the hydrosols presence in the depression micro
relief forms but also to the Luvosols presence on a significant surface (Figure 6).
Analyzing the zinc distribution map (Figure 7) it comes out that the focal points with values higher than 100 mg·kg-1 are placed near the industrial units
locations. Therefore, a certain influence of the emissions proceeded from these
units existed but at low values, below the maximum allowable limit (Kloke, 1980)
or the alarm threshold for a land sensitive use.
The insular and random zinc distribution is maintained on the whole surface.
The lead tendency distribution map (Figure 8) clearly highlights the area
around the industrial units stretching West in which the values are higher than the alert threshold for a sensitive land use. The insular character of the high
R. Lăcătuşu, Lungu, Teodorescu, Stanciu, A.-R. Lăcătuşu, Stroe, Lazăr, Rizea 204
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
13000
15000
17000
19000
21000
23000
25000
27000
29000
31000
33000
35000
37000
39000
41000
43000
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
13000
15000
17000
19000
21000
23000
25000
27000
29000
31000
33000
35000
37000
39000
41000
43000
Fig. 5 – The tendency map of the total iron contents (mg·kg-1
) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti
area soils
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
875
900
950
1000
1050
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
875
900
950
1000
1050
Fig. 6 – The tendency map of the total manganese contents (mg·kg-1) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti
area soils
▬ normal values (900 mg·kg-1, according to MAPPM Order No.756/1997)
Heavy metals abundance in the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area 205
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
Fig. 7 – The tendency map of the total zinc contents (mg·kg-1) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
▬ normal values (100 mg·kg-1, according to MAPPM Order No.756/1997)
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
Fig. 8 - The tendency map of the total lead contents (mg·kg-1) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils
▬ normal values (20 mg·kg-1); ▬ alarm threshold for a land sensitive use (50 mg·kg-1); ▬
intervention threshold for land sensitive use (100 mg·kg-1); according to MAPPM Order No.756/1997
R. Lăcătuşu, Lungu, Teodorescu, Stanciu, A.-R. Lăcătuşu, Stroe, Lazăr, Rizea 206
26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.3 26.31 26.32
44.42
44.43
44.44
44.45
44.46
44.47
44.48
Pantelimon
Cernica
m
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
64
68
72
75
76
80
84
Fig. 9 - The tendency map of the total nickel contents (mg·kg-1) in the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area
soils
▬ alarm threshold for a land sensitive use (50 mg·kg-1 according to MAPPM Order No.756/1997)
concentration (100 mg·kg-1) surfaces is maintained on the whole area but with a
higher frequency in the central zone stretching East. The fact that the highest lead soil values are to be found in arable soils, as the
map of Figure 8 shows, indicates that the forest constituted an obstacle in the way
of lead loaded particles deposition on soil.
The nickel can also be considered a chemical element with anthropic
collisions in its soil distribution (Figure 9) because its concentration surfaces are in
the Eastern part of the polluting units’ location and in the North-Eastern part of the
investigated area, beyond the forest’s Eastern limit. Therefore, as for the nickel, the forest constituted a barrier in the way of the polluting emissions which fall
immediately after the forest ends. It can be assessed that the nickel outrunned the
alarm threshold for a sensitive land use only punctiform, as the frequency histogram of its distribution showed (Figure 5).
Conclusions The investigated area is located East of the Bucharest Municipality, between
Pantelimon locality in the West and Brăneşti in the East. It has a total area of
5,916.72 ha.
The soil cover consists predominantly of Preluvosols and Chernozems
associated with Phaeozioms along with Luvosols, and Hydrosols.
Heavy metals abundance in the soils of the Pantelimon – Brăneşti area 207
The Pantelimon – Brăneşti area soils have a clay-loam texture, a big and very
big bulk density. The Chernozems are slightly acid up to neutral – slightly alkaline,
and the Preluvosols are slightly-medium acid. The humus content is low, the total
nitrogen one low up to medium, the phosphorus and potassium mobile forms
supply is diverse, from low to high.
In the first 60 cm the iron, manganese, and zinc contents belong to the normal
contents domain, while the nickel and lead concentrations are, on an average, 2,
respectively 1.8 times higher than the normal values. Some of the nickel (11) and lead (16) values, specific to the upper soil horizon
(0-20 cm), outrunned the maximum allowable limits values (50, respectively 100
mg·kg-1
) and those of the alarm thresholds for a sensitive land use. The values of the geochemical abundance index show lower content levels of
the manganese, nickel, and zinc than their average lithospheric content (clark
value), while the lead content is 2.3 times higher than this indicator’s value. As compared to the average content in the World’s soils in the soils of the
Pantelimon – Brăneşti area the four heavy metals contents are higher 1.32 (zinc);
1.45 (manganese); 2.00 (nickel); and 2.43 (lead) times.
The frequency histograms of the iron and manganese contents have a
symmetric tendency, while those of nickel, lead, and zinc are asymmetric, with
right asymmetry.
The tendency maps of the heavy metals distribution in the Pantelimon –
Brăneşti area soils show the insular character of the high contents generated by the
polluting emissions nature, by the dominant winds direction, by the micro relief, and by the vegetation structure.
The tendency map of the lead distribution in the upper soil horizon (0-20 cm)
clearly highlights this chemical element concentration at a polluting level in the pollutant emission source vicinity.
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* * * Order No.756/1997 of the Ministry of Waters, Forests, and Environment
Protection for the approval of the Settlement regarding environment pollution
assessment, Romania’s Official Monitor, Part I, nr.303 bis, 6.09.1997 (published in
Romanian).
