Heavy metals in the Bystrzyca river flood plain

Abstract

Downstream of Lublin, the Bystrzyca river represents a very high pollution level. A considerable portion of constituents disposed with effluents to the river accumulates in recent alluvium. River bottom deposits in the downstream stretch from Lublin to this river outlet to the Wieprz river exhibit high concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and zinc. Heavy metals of high concentrations have also been detected in soils of the Bystrzyca flood plain. Peak concentrations have been found to occur in soils occurring in the immediate vicinity of the river bed, within a 20 m belt. It has been found that soils subject to cultivation frequently contain very high cadmium content (in excess of permissible concentration).