BENZO[A]PYRENE CONTENT IN SOME SOILS OF IRKUTSK OBLAST

Factual data on the spatial and vertical distribution of benzo[a]pyren e in soil and plant covers of arable soils, forests, and urban zones a re presented for four regions of Irkutsk oblast under different anthro pogenic effects. The pollution degree was estimated. Industrial and tr affic sources of pollution increase the benzo[a]pyrene concentration 1 0-10 000 times as compared to regional and conventional background lev els. Most amounts of polycyclic aromatic compounds are accumulated in the plant litter and upper humus horizons, and the distribution of ben zo[a]pyrene in the soil profile agrees with the humus variations. A zo ne of considerable soil pollution was revealed in the industrial regio n with an aluminum smelter.