SOIL CONTAMINATION INDUCED BY HISTORICAL ZINC-LEAD ORE MINING AND IRON AND ZINC SMELTING IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE UPPER SILESIAN INDUSTRIAL REGION (SOUTHERN POLAND)

Abstract

The purpose of the work was to determine the degree of accumulation of heavy metals, arsenic and sulphur in the soils of the central part of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region. Heavy industry, mining of metal ores and hard coal, iron and non-ferrous metallurgy as well as the discharge of industrial and municipal sewage caused a strong degradation of the natural environment of this area. The content of twenty one elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V i Zn) have been assayed in the soils of central part Upper Silesian Industrial Region. The contamination of the soils was assessed on the basis of contamination factors, enrichment factors and geoaccumulation indexes. The tests revealed elevated content of metals, arsenic and sulphur exceeding the levels of the regional geochemical background. Factor analysis made it possible to combine chemical elements into groups, probably derived from the same lithological or/and anthropogenic sources.