MONITORING OF CONTAMINATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN BUKOVYNA WITH HEAVY METALS

Abstract

The main sources of soils contamination with heavy metals have been analyzed. The results of monitoring agricultural soils contamination with heavy metals and the content of metals in the plant tissues in Chernivtsi region have also been registered. The average content of heavy metals in the agricultural soils of Chernivtsi region complies with the corresponding background values. An average content of the following heavy metals in a 0-5 cm horizon of the agricultural soils of Chernivtsi region was registered (mg/kg): 9,6 (Pb), 0,26 (Cd), 30,4 (Cu), 30,5 (Ni); 72,0 (Cr); 78,3 (Zn); 973 (Mn). Similar values for the urban soils within Chernivtsi were noticed as well: 51,3 (Pb), 0,3 (Cd), 79,2 (Cu), 25,3 (Ni); 41,0 (Cr); 73,4 (Zn); 654 (Mn). Heavy metals were arranged in a sequence according to their toxicity, which also varies for different organisms and content of free ions. The dependence of the metal ions content in food and the plants growing and cooking conditions has been analyzed. Some ways of heavy metals accumulation in plants are described. Local areas with higher concentration of heavy metals have been identified near roads and within some gardens. No such areas were found near industrial objects. The content of heavy metals in the soils of Prykarpattya and Prut-Dnister upland area remains below the background level, which ensures secure conditions for agricultural activities. A comparison between the heavy metals content in Bukovyna and other regions of Ukraine has also been made.