Assessment of heavy metals contents in soil from an industrial plant of southern part of Romania

An investigation of soils is performed in order to establish the impact of heavy metal pollutionnear an industrial power plant. The use of synthetic products (e.g. pesticides, paints, batteries, industrialwaste and land application of industrial or domestic sludge) can result in heavy metal contamination ofsoils. Heavy metals also occur naturally, but rarely at toxic levels. Soil samples from different depth weredrawn. Heavy metals such as Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn were analysed to establish the level of contaminationrelative to maximum limits enforced by environmental protection agencies. In addition, a measurementfor the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration is accomplished.