Rtęć w glebach obszarów zurbanizowanych Polski

The enrichment of urban soils in mercury in relation to regional geochemical background was evaluated in towns throughout the whole territory of Poland. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0.0–0.2 m within administrative boundaries of 334 towns of various sizes. Sampling density ranged from 1 sample/5–6 km2 to 1 sample/0.06 km2 and the weight of each sample was about 1000 g. Mercury content was measured using a cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) method. Mercury enrichment in topsoil in selected towns of Poland is presented in the form of geochemical dot map, differentiating the mercury enrichment value by the dot size. The geochemical background and extent and intensity of anomalies in non built-up areas are presented in the form of contour map. Detailed maps of mercury distribution in topsoils were additionally compiled for some towns. The study shows that the mercury content vary within wide limits, depending on both chemistry of parent rocks and intensity of urbanization and industrial and transportation activity. Generally, the mercury content in urban soils is two to four times higher than in open space around the towns. The highest mercury concentration (712 mg/kg) was found in soils in Poznań. Anomalies were also recorded in soils in Jaworzno (36.15 mg/kg), Wrocław (6.60 mg/kg), Łódź (5.82 mg/kg), Gdańsk (5.50 mg/kg) and Legnica (5.13 mg/kg). Significant mercury concentrations are observed in soils of the Upper Silesian agglomeration, in Bytom, Chorzów, Katowice, Siemianowice, Świętochłowice, Ruda Śląska and Zabrze.