Particle-size distribution and heavy metals accumulation in soils of Rostov-on-Don

Abstract

The surface horizons of the soils of traffic areas of Rostov-on-Don are characterized almost twice higher content of soil particles from 1 mm to 0,01 mm than native chernozems. The higher anthropogenic load provides the higher the content of sand fractions in the particle-size distribution. The accumulation of heavy metals (HM) in urban soils of roadside areas is relatively small, which is also due to a decrease of the soil sorption capacity. Significant excess of the estimated permissible concentrations was detected only for zinc and lead, and the higher the pollution level, the weaker the correlation between the particle size distribution and the HM content. This is justified by the influence of external factors on the accumulation rate of chemical elements.