2007_6_Nr6_EEMJ

Draghici et al. /Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 6 (2007), 6, 497-503
major source of Cu pollution was smelters that
contributed vast quantities of Cu–S particulates to the
atmosphere.
a)
22.11 mg/kg dry weight in depth samples). The
determined Cu concentrations in Eforie Sud soils
sometimes slowly exceeded the normal limit in soil.
Another observation consists in the fact that copper
concentration is higher in depths samples than in the
surface samples in both locations.
30
25
a)
Cr conc., mg/kg d.w.
20
15
10
5
0
Apr May Iun Iul Aug Sept Oct
month
surface
depth
Cu conc., mg/kg d.w.
50
40
30
20
10
0
Apr May Iun Iul Aug Sept Oct
surface
depth
b)
month
Cr conc., mg/kg d.w.
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Apr May Iun Iul Aug Sept Oct
month
Fig. 3. Chromium concentration evolution in soil adjacent
to waste deposits in April-October 2006 (mean values,
mg/kg dry weight); a) Eforie Sud; b) Techirghiol
surface
depth
Presently, the burning of fossil fuels and waste
incineration are the major sources of Cu to the
atmosphere and the application of sewage sludge,
municipal composts, pig and poultry wastes are the
primary sources of anthropogenic Cu contributed to
the land surface. The amount of Cu available to plants
varies widely by soils.
Available Cu can vary from 1 to 200 ppm
(parts per million) in both mineral and organic soils
as a function of soil pH and soil texture. Availability
of Cu is related to soil pH and texture. As soil pH
increases, the availability of this nutrient decreases
and the finer-textured mineral soils generally contain
the highest amounts of Cu. Copper is not mobile in
soils, being attracted to soil organic matter and clay
minerals. Toxic at high doses, excess Cu can lead to
Zn deficiencies and vice-versa.
Fig. 4 presents the mean copper concentration
in studied soil samples.
In Eforie Sud soil samples Cu concentration
ranged between 15.80 – 21.75 mg/kg dry weight in
surface samples and 13.37 – 47.60 mg/kg dry weight
in depth samples. Soil samples from Techirghiol
registered similar Cu concentrations (15.80 – 19.25
mg/kg dry weight in surface samples and 16.25–
Cu conc., mg/kg d.w.
25
20
15
10
5
0
Apr Iun Aug Oct
month
Fig. 4. Copper concentration evolution in soil adjacent to
waste deposits in April-October 2006 (mean values, mg/kg
dry weight); a) Eforie Sud; b) Techirghiol
Manganese is a less abundant major
component (0.1%) in the earth’s crust. The major
anthropogenic sources of environmental manganese
include municipal wastewater discharges, sewage
sludge, mining and mineral processing (particularly
nickel), emissions from alloy, steel, and iron
production, combustion of fossil fuels, and, to a much
lesser extent, emissions from the combustion of fuel
additives. Mean reported Mn concentration in soils is
300–600 mg/kg dry weight. Availability of Mn
increases as soil pH decreases. Soils with a high
organic matter and neutral pH will be low in Mn. As
the organic matter increases the complexing of Mn
with organic matter also increases. Soils high in
organic matter will usually be low in available Mn.
The role of Mn in plants was discovered in 1922. It is
essential for photosynthesis, production of
chlorophyll and nitrate reduction. Plants which are
deficient in Mn exhibit a slower rate of
photosynthesis by as much as half of a normal plant.
Plants which are low in Mn causes other
metals such as iron to exist in an oxidized and
b)
surface
depth
500