ZAWARTOŚĆ RTĘCI W GLEBACH ORAZ OSADACH RZECZNYCH I STRUMIENIOWYCH W REGIONIE ŚLĄSKO-KRAKOWSKIM

Abstract

MERCURY IN SOILS, AND RIVER AND STREAM SEDIMENTS IN THE SILESIA-CRACOW REGION (SOUTHERN POLAND)Abstract. The content and sources of mercury have been evaluated in soils, as well as in river and stream sediments in the Silesian-Cracow region (southern Poland). The sampling density in topsoil (0.0–0.3 m) and subsoil (0.8–1.0 m) was 16 sites per km2, the distance between sampling sites of watercourses was about 250 m. Mercury concentration was determined by the CV-AAS method, following a hot aqua regia digestion. The mercury concentration ranges were <0.05–66.50, <0.05–36.15 and <0.05–182.00 mg/kg respectively for topsoil, subsoil and sediments. Mercury anomalies show generally small extents in both soils and watercourse sediments but the number of anomalies is considerable. The maps of spatial distribution present the areas of high mercury concentration that is attributed to active and inactive industrial plants, mining shafts, mine dumps, and other plants. Location of the anomalies indicates that a significant portion of the mercury probably comes from the deposition of anthropogenic atmospheric emissions due to industrial activities. Mercury in the topsoil clearly results from the current soil use. The average value (expressed as the median) remains below 0.05 mg/kg in the forest and arable soils, and is 0.05 mg/kg in the meadow soils. The median value of mercury content in the soils of allotments, urban lawns, barren land and industrial areas is the same and amounts to 0.06 mg/kg. The greatest median value of mercury (0.07 mg/kg) was measured in the soils of urban parks.