Integral assessment of heavy metal pollution in Don River estuary soils

Abstract

Based on the cumulative pollution index, spatial distribution maps were obtained to establish categories of soil pollution taking into account the total content of heavy metals and the mobile forms of metals in the Don River estuarine region. The objects of the study included samples of zonal soils (Chernozem) and intrazonal soils (Fluvisols) from monitoring plots. The total concentrations of Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the soils were determined by X-ray fluorescent scanning spectrometer. Mobile heavy metals compounds were transferred to a solution by extraction of 1 N NH4Ac, pH 4.8. When calculating the total metal content, it was shown the studied soils had generally an acceptable pollution category but taking into account mobile forms the categories of soils contamination variate up acceptable to extremely dangerous. The most polluted sites are associated with the estuary of small rivers and the branches flowing into the Taganrog Bay, the territory of the Taganrog port and its terminals, and road bridges. In line with hight categories of pollution, the use of the soils for cropping should be limited, and the cultivation of concentrator plants is excluded.