HEAVY METALS IN THE SOIL AND IN THE ORGANISMS OF THE INVERTEBRATES INHABITING THE SOIL

The heavy metals that get into the organisms influence their vital processes. In order to evaluate the toxicity of metals to mesofauna of the soil the diversity, the number and the content of the Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn in the soil and in the body of the fauna of grass habitats were analysed. The chosen areas were situated near the roads with different rates of traffic flow and, to compare, in the city park. The soils were characterized by similar pH reaction and the low humidity. They differ in the content of the heavy metals. The soil in the city park showed the lowest concentration of Pb and low for the other heavy metals and, at the same time, the highest density of mesofauna.