Influence of diversified anthropogenic pressure on heavy metals contents in soils and plants of garden allotments

Abstract

The presented research aimed at assessing the impact of anthropogenic pressure of varying intensity on the heavy metals content in the soils of garden allotments and in the biomass of plants grown there. In order to achieve the study purpose, the contents of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd were determined in the soil samples of three allotments located in Silesia (strong industrial and urban pressure), Lublin (moderate industrial and urban pressure) and Biała Podlaska (weak urban pressure). The same elements were analysed in leaves and roots of red beets grown on the soils in urban areas mentioned above. It was found that the soils derived from Silesia were the most polluted, less polluted were the soils from Lublin, and the least polluted were the soils from Biała Podlaska. The content of Pb, Cu, and Cd in the leaves and roots of red beet harvested on the examined soils was dependent on the concentrations of these elements in soils. The obtained results indicated that the contamination of soils and plants with heavy metals should be included into the comprehensive assessment of the human impact on the environment, especially in industrial and urbanised areas, and suggested the need for further, widely spread studies of soils in such areas.