Distribution of forms of heavy metals in soils contaminated by metallurgical smelter emissions.

The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical partitioning of heavy metals occur in soils polluted with metallurgical smelters as well as to estimate potential mobility of these metals. Six soil profiles situated at different distances from metallurgical smelters were chosen and soil samples were taken from top- and sub-surfiace layers. Total contents of metals were much higher in top-soil than in sub-surface soil and varied in the following ranges (mg kg(-1)): Cu, 1-298; Zn, 2.4-322; Pb, 2.8-196; Cd, 0.34-2.04; Cr. 1.89-6.68; Ni, 2.59-10.15. The speciation of metals (Cu, Zn, and Pb) originating from metallurgical smelters showed considerably higher percentages of exchangeable and carbonate fractions which were likely to be leached from surface layer of sandy soils. The distribution of forms of metals were found to depend strongly both on soil properties and metal origin.