Heavy metals in the organic soil horizon of the Northern taiga forests resulting from industrial air pollution

Abstract

This study focuses on heavy metals contained in organic soil horizons resulting from the industrial air pollution caused by local enterprises. Polymetallic dust containing heavy metals is one of the main by-products in the smelting of non-ferrous metals. We evaluated the contents of Ni, Cu, and Co in the upper soil horizons containing the maximum amount of these pollutants (due to the formation of stable compounds with organic components of these horizons). Sampling was carried out at various distances from the source of pollution at previously established test sites. The study found acid-soluble heavy metals at various distances from the source of pollution and revealed the regularity of their content, both qualitative and quantitative.