Comparison of polycyclic aromatic compounds and heavy metals contents in sewage sludges from industrialized and non-industrialized region

The total contents of PAHs, organic polar fractions and 14 major hydrocarbo ns containing 3-6 aromatic rings as well as heavy metal contents were deter mined in sewage sludges from highly industrialized (Upper Silesia), agricul tural and recreational regions of Poland. Sludges from the industrial regio n showed markedly increased concentrations of all the organic micropollutan ts and 2-10 times higher levels of the following heavy metals: Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Mn and Co. The levels, however, did not exceed the Polish a s well as European Economic Community limit values, which renders all the s ludges applicable to land and some of them suitable for utilization on agri cultural soils.