ZANIECZYSZCZENIE ŚRODOWISKA GRUNTOWO-WODNEGO METALAMI CIĘŻKIMI W REJONIE DAWNEJ HUTY ALEKSANDRA W KIELCACH

Abstract

POLLUTION OF SOIL-AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT BY HEAVY METALS IN THE FORMER ALEXANDER SMELTER AREA IN KIELCEAbstract. In the protective zone of municipal groundwater intake, in the former industrial district named Białogon, which is the southern part of the city of Kielce, the metal industry has operated for about 200 years. The studies of soils demonstrated elevated levels of trace elements (mostly Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr). However, environmental conditions do not facilitate their leaching and further migration to groundwater. The soil environment is weakly acidic and neutral, while the pH value is even higher (pH 7–8) in deeper carbonate deposits. This is the reason why the pollutants do not migrate and do not worsen the water quality in the wells situated near the municipal groundwater intake. The concentrations of zinc and lead in the polluted soils do not exceed the limit values for agricultural soils, and are as follows: Zn 24.4–1646.0 mg/kg, Pb 12.5–1904.0 mg/kg. The contents of chromium, copper, cadmium, manganese and nickel in the soil samples were lower than the limit values. The contents of the metals in the groundwater do not exceed the amount allowable for drinking water.