Mobile forms and migration ability of Cu, Pb and Zn in forestry system in Poland

Abstract

The total concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn and their bioavailability were studied in forest soil and vegetative communities (grass and wild strawberries) collected from two areas (A and B). Two single extraction methods were used for the evaluation of the availability of Cu, Pb and Zn in forest soils. The total metal concentrations ranged from 27.43 to 143.34 mg/kg for Zn, 49.82 to 95.84 mg/kg for Pb and 0.96 to 3.24 mg/kg for Cu in soil samples A and 43.55 to 89.65, 50.62 to 117.59 and 0.95 to 4.37 mg/kg, respectively, in soil samples B. The Pb and Zn concentrations in some soil samples were significantly elevated with respect to the background levels of Poland area. The mean concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cu in grass samples from area A were 71.10, 37.48 and 1.81 mg/kg, respectively, and they were higher than the corresponding values in grass from area B. The concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cu in fruits of wild strawberries, amounting to 59.89, 19.05 and 2.71 mg/kg, respectively, were at the similar level as the metal concentrations in grass. The highest level of grass contamination was found for Pb, and their concentrations were above the critical ranges. The mean EDTA-extractable Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations in soils samples A were 20.69, 17.30 and 0.50 mg/kg, respectively, and in soils samples B 14.10, 23.67 and 0.46 mg/kg. Correlation between the concentrations of heavy metals in grass and the chemical parameters of soil (pH and OM), the transfer factor values and the total and extractable metal concentrations in soil were calculated.