Ecological risk associated with agricultural production in soils contaminated by the activities of the metal ore mining and processing industry - example from southern Poland

Highlights

• The type of pollution is related to the type concentrates (ores) that are processed.

• The permissible levels of Pb and Zn in soils were exceeded 2–10 times.

• Close surrounding of smelter should be excluded from agricultural production.

• On this area agrotechnical measures should be applied to immobilise metals in the soil.

Abstract

This paper assesses the degree of soil pollution of agricultural land exposed to the emission of pollution related to the mining and processing industry. Based on the analysis of the content of primary elements (Mg, K, P, Ca, S and Fe) and trace elements (Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Ti and Mn) in soils from the area of Bukowno, Sosnowiec, Nowa Huta and Cło (southern Poland, EU) pollution coefficients i.e. the geo-accumulation index I_geo and the enrichment factor EF were calculated. The usability of the soils analysed in terms of agriculture was also determined in accordance with the guidelines of the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation in Puławy. The research findings indicate that the permissible levels of Pb and Zn have been exceeded (Bukowno, Sosnowiec and Nowa Huta) in locations where the exploitation and processing of Zn-Pb ores and steel production take place. The amount and type of pollution found in the soils is closely related to the type of industry and concentrates (ores) that are processed in a given plant. Heavy Zn pollution (I_geo ≥ 3) and medium Pb pollution (I_geo > 2) preclude some of these areas from agricultural production, especially from leafy vegetable cultivation.