The influence of heavy metals on soil chemical characteristics from Copşa mică

Abstract

The main pollution source in Sibiu is represented by the continued emissions of particulate matter and sediment containing heavy metals from S.C. Sometra S.A. located in Copsa Mica. High metal concentrations in the environment have widely ranging impacts on soils, plants and animals. Early 90s, polluted area stretched along the Târnava Mare valley, from Dumbrăveni town in the East, to Blaj in the West, and bordered to the north by Smig and Cetatea de Balta localities and in the southern part by Mihăileni, Șeica Mare and Cenade localities. Investigation area covered Târnava Mare Valley (upstream and downstream of Copsa Mica), between Tîrnava (upstream) and Micasasa (downstream) localities. Also, it have been done research in the valley slopes area. There were collected 30 soil samples on 0-20 cm depth (or Ap horizon), inside SOMETRA S.A. company and in the immediate vicinity, to obtain analytical data to characterize the dominant soils in the area and determine the pollutants content accumulated in the soil, especially on surface horizon and spread throughout the existing environmental conditions; laboratory tests on some chemical characteristics were achieved in ICPA Bucharest laboratories. In the investigated area formed a coating of diverse soil composed of terms belonging to four soils classes: Protisoils, Luvisoils, Hydrisoils, Antrisoils. Soils identified were classified according to Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy. The paper presents the chemical characteristics (soil reaction, organic matter content and total nitrogen and phosphorus and potassium supply mobile) of soil sampled from Copsa Mica. Soil samples collected from the enterprise influence area have a soil reaction neutral to weak alkaline. Regarding the contents of humus, total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are very low and low cell all the soil samples collected in the area.