Analysis оf Geoecological State оf Soils From Industrial Areas in the Vratsa Balkan. I. Alluvial And Alluvial (Diluvial) - Meadow Soils Along the Iskar River in the Sector Between Villages of Lyutibrod and Kunino

Abstract

The main pollutant in the studied area of the Iskar river valley is the first Bulgarian mining and metallurgical enterprise “Eliseina”, founded in 1905 for the extraction and production of black copper. Regardless of the negative impact of its industrial activity on the environment, the data on soil pollution is still limited. The present study aims to fill up this gap. The geo-ecological status of soils was studied by standardized methods for determining the content of potentially toxic elements Pb, Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Cd and Cr, and pH (BDS ISO). The assessment of pollution is based on a specially developed scale that takes into account the coefficient of toxicity and additionally introduced pollution index.
Results show that the industrial production of Cu in the Eliseina village causes different levels of pollution of adjacent to the river alluvial and alluvial (diluvial) - medow soils with copper, lead, zinc and arsenic. The pollution is concentrated in the land of Lyutibrod, but elevated (above background) concentrations of Pb are established in soils along the entire studied river section. The pollution index with an average value of 1.8 (range from 1.3 to 4.2) defines soils in the land of Lyutibrod as moderately polymetallic polluted with copper, lead, zinc and arsenic. Since the unpolluted soils have not been found there, the strict and permanent quality control of crop production used for food and fodder is needed. Soil pollution with Ni shows island nature, concentrated in the alluvial and alluvial (diluvial) - medow soils in lands of Mezdra and Staro Selo.