Cristina Laura BIG¹, Radu LĂCĂTUŞU² & Floarea DAMIAN^3
1Al. I. Cuza University of Iaşi, Geography and Geology Faculty, Department of Environmental Science, Carol I Avenue, No. 20 A, Iaşi, 70050, e-mail www. geoiasi@uaic.ro, cristinalaura_pop@yahoo.com
²Al. I. Cuza University of Iaşi, Geography and Geology Faculty, Carol I Avenue, No. 20 A, Iaşi, 70050,
e-mail www.geoiasi@uaic.ro
³Tehnical University of Cluj Napoca, North University Center of Baia Mare, dr. Victor Babeş Street, No. 62, Baia Mare, e-mail loricadamian@ubm.ro

HEAVY METALS IN SOIL-PLANT SYSTEM AROUND BAIA MARE CITY, ROMANIA

Full text

A field survey was conducted to investigate the metal contamination in soils and vegetables, and to evaluate the possible health risks to local population through food chain transfer near two processing of non-ferrous ore deposits in Baia Mare, northwestern Romania. Contamination levels in soils and vegetables with cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were measured, Pearson correlations and transfer factors (TF) from soils to vegetable plants were calculated accordingly. Results showed that both soils and vegetables from villages near the contamination area were heavily contaminated, compared to a village 38 km from the smelter (Mara). The values for heavy metals in soil are between 9.1- 2593 mg.kg^-1 for Cu, 1.1-27 mg.kg^-1 for Cd, 83-8040 mg.kg^-1for Pb and between 60-11445 mg.kg^-1 for Zn. The values for Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn concentrations in vegetables for 20 samples are between 5.8-196 mg.kg^-1 Cu, 0.3-5.2 mg.kg^-1 Cd, 0.5-15 mg.kg^-1 Pb respectively, 21-126 mg.kg^-1Zn (on dry weight basis). The transfer factor (TF) has lower values such as 0.04-1.07 for Cu, 0-1.19 for Cd, 0-0.04 for Pb and 0.01-0.43 for Zn, which means that the heavy metals are retained by plants from atmospheric emissions and highlight that the heavy metals are strongly retained in soil. Pearson coefficients correlations are well assured for Cd 0.53 at 0-10 cm and 0.46 at 20-40 cm. The complexity of metal contamination and their health risks are also discussed. The final results illustrated that the environment has been polluted by industrial activities.