Analysis of soil contamination with heavy metals in (the three) highly contaminated industrial zones

Abstract

Soils of industrial regions are more sensitive to transfer and accumulate anthropogenic pollution, especially in the case of a Havaria. The environmental effects of three aluminium plants—a working plant (Tajikistan), a storage plant (Slovakia) and a Havaria-affected plant (Hungary)—were examined by the determination of the contamination levels. In addition, the research focus was on to identify and compare the topsoil chemical properties near the aluminium plants and to assess the effects of the red mud accident in Hungary (Ajka), by analysing contaminated soil in this particular area. Using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy analysis, amount of 9 toxic metals in the shallow topsoil (0–20, 20–40 cm) from industrial areas were measured. Considering all of the studied areas around aluminium plants, extreme concentrations of Cd (1591.20 mg kg−1), Pb (2514 mg kg−1), Cu (1362.67 mg kg−1), Zn (1476.02 mg kg−1), Ni (1142.95 mg kg−1), Co (1295.81 mg kg−1), Cr (1379.69 mg kg−1), Fe (24,861.73 mg kg−1), and Al (18,221.60 mg kg−1) were still recorded in Hungary, and the lowest concentrations were found in Žiar nad Hronom (Slovakia). Results showed that the concentration of heavy metals is significant in all investigated areas, even up to 5 years after the accident in Hungary. This level of soil contamination is able to damage plants and trees which consequently can lead to soil erosion and deforestation.