Heavy metals in soil

The Importance of Soil for Life

Soil, known in Latin as "humus," forms the foundation of human civilization and is a key resource for food and survival. Its contamination with heavy metals such as lead and cadmium directly threatens soil fertility and the safety of food chains. As a non-renewable resource, soil provides essential conditions for plant growth, making it vital for maintaining ecosystems and agricultural production. However, the intensive development of agriculture and industry has contributed to soil pollution, raising concerns about potential environmental and human health consequences.

The Issue of Heavy Metals in Soil

Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), arsenic (As), and cobalt (Co) can accumulate in soil due to both natural and anthropogenic activities. For example: cadmium and lead often originate from industrial wastewater and waste, chromium is released from leather processes, copper and zinc derive from fertilizers and pesticides, arsenic is linked to mining and coal combustion and mercury accumulates due to emissions from waste power plants and gold mining, while nickel is associated with the metal-processing industry.

The presence of these metals can cause:

• Damage to plants and reduced crop yields.

• Changes in the physical and chemical properties of the soil.

• Contamination of food chains, potentially endangering human health.

Heavy metals do not degrade in the environment and have long-term impacts. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct monitoring and analysis to mitigate their negative effects.

Legal Regulations

To reduce soil pollution and protect human health, legal regulations have been enacted to define permissible limits for heavy metals in soil. The most significant regulations include:

• The Regulation on the Protection of Agricultural Land from Pollution (NN 71/2019), which specifies maximum concentrations of lead (Pb) at 50 mg/kg, cadmium (Cd) at 1 mg/kg, and mercury (Hg) at 0.5 mg/kg in agricultural soil.

• The Regulation on Fertilizing Products in Accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and the Council, which governs the composition and marketing of fertilizing products.

These regulations aim to prevent the accumulation of harmful substances in soil and ensure safe food production.

Metal Analysis in Soil

Recognizing the importance of monitoring heavy metals for informed soil management decisions, Sample Control offers expert soil analysis services using state-of-the-art equipment and methods to provide reliable and accurate results. Our services include:

• Sample preparation through microwave digestion.

• Heavy metal analysis using the ICP-MS method.

Protecting soil from heavy metal pollution is essential for ecosystem sustainability and human health. Regular analysis and adherence to legal regulations ensure the safe and productive use of this valuable resource. Contact us with confidence for professional and precise soil analysis.