Cristina MIHALI¹, Gabriela OPREA¹, Angela MICHNEA², Stela-Gabriela JELEA¹, Marian JELEA¹, Călin MAN³, Marin ŞENILĂ⁴ & Laura GRIGOR^1
1 Technical University of Cluj Napoca, North University Center of Baia Mare, 62A Dr. Victor Babeş Street, 430083 Baia Mare, Romania, mihali.cristina@gmail.com
² Environmental Protection Agency Maramureş, 1A Iza Street, 430073, Baia Mare, Romania
³ Emergency County Hospital “Dr. C. Opriş” Baia Mare, 31 G. Coşbuc Street, 430031, Baia Mare, Romania
⁴ INCDO-INOE 2000 - Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation, 67 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS CONTENT AND POLLUTION LEVEL IN SOIL AND PLANTS IN BAIA MARE AREA, NW ROMANIA

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In order to assess the soil pollution level by heavy metals and also the possibility of metalsentrance in the food chain via plants, pollution load index (PLI), contamination factors (CF) and soil to planttransfer factors (TF) were calculated. Topsoil samples (1-10 cm) and plants growing on them were collectedfrom four areas in Baia Mare city and surroundings: three polluted areas (Ferneziu, Săsar and Center) andone reference area. The following heavy metals: Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Sn were analyzed in soiland plant samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The highest TF wereobtained for Cd (0.66-3.13) while the lowest values were calculated for Pb (0.004-0.02). The contaminationlevel of the soil within the investigated areas was assessed according to PLI values. Ferneziu district, wherethe lead smelter is located, was found being the most polluted site for Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Sn. Clusteranalysis was conducted in order to classify metals of different sources and origins. Cd, Pb, Sn, Zn and Cuoccur as a result of anthropogenic activities while Co, Cr, Mn and Ni in soil can be naturally found in thesoil composition