Heavy metals in the forest soils of the South Podlasie Lowland

Concentration and profile distribution of heavy metals was investigated as contamination indicators of the forest soils formed from glacial deposits of the South Podlasie Lowland. The study was carried out on thirteen soil profiles situated a hundred meters from the road. The highest content of heavy metals was found in the organic horizons of the investigated soils. The mean content of Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr in the investigated soils were: 556.7, 72.9,15.5, 63.5,13.8, 16.5 mg/kg d.m. of the soil, respectively. In the mineral-organic and mineral horizons of the investigated soils heavy metals were present in quantities which were close to natural. The podzol soils, podzols and rusty soils developed from sands contain less heavy metals than the soils lessivés, black earth and deluvial soil. The Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb distribution in the soil profiles is influenced by the soil forming processes. The distribution index of the examined metals distribution in the genetic horizons testify to it.