HEAVY-METAL CONTENT IN VARIOUS PARTICLE-SIZE AND DENSITY FRACTIONS OFSOILS

Heavy metals were determined in hot-water extracts and particle-size a nd density fractions (the light ones, with densities of <1.8 and 1.8-2 .0 g/cm(3), and, also; clay (<1 mu m) fractions and the residue) to ev aluate the anthropogenic contamination of soils and the mobility of he avy metals. These fractions are significantly different in the amount and properties of organic matter and hence in the ability to hx heavy metals and to affect their migration and availability to plants. It wa s found that the light and clay fractions are informative indicators o f soil contamination with heavy metals. The concentration of these met als in soils should be determined in environmental monitoring.