The aim of the study was to determine soils pollution by heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Cr) and their content in pine needles taken from terrain of Krakow Agglomeration. It was found large changeability of individual trace metals content in analyzed plants and soils material. The metals content in soils amounted to: 12.64-631.9 mg Zn, 1.24-35.06 mg Cu and 2.39-158.9 mg Cr . kg(-1) dm. The average content of zinc, copper and chromium in soil samples from the city of Krakow terrain was visibly higher than in the analogous material taken from neighboring localities. Variation coefficients of individual trace elements content were: 102.8 % for Cr, 72 % for Zn and 54.2 % for Cu. The highest amounts of analyzed heavy metals was found in soils from places of Krakow Agglomeration located in zones of large intensity of road traffics and in Old Town where the influence of anthropopressure lasts the longest. High their contents were observed also in soil samples taken from the periphery of Krakow and in localities with dense one-family buildings situated along the main traffic routes. The relatively low content of these metals in soils were observed in multifamily dwelling housing estates and in smaller villages from the periphery of the Agglomeration. On average, the most pollution of studied soils with Cu and Zn was found in the eastern part of the Agglomeration, while the lowest in western one. The highest average Cr content was observed in the soil samples taken from northern part of the Krakow Agglomeration while the lowest in southern part. Contents of zinc and copper in soil were significant positively correlated with organic matter content in soil. The average contents of analyzed trace metals in pine needles taken from the city of Krakow terrain and from neighboring localities were differed slightly. The average content of these metals in pine needles from the Agglomeration terrain amounted to: 55.45 mg Zn, 4.76 mg Cu and 2.54 mg Cr . kg(-1) d . m. Individual metals content in plant was differentiated in diverse extent. The largest variation was found in case of Cr (V = 40 %), lower for Zn (V = 30.8 %), and the lowest in case of Cu (26.4 %). The highest average analyzed heavy metals content was found in needles of pine grown in southern part of the Krakow Agglomeration. The smallest Cu and Cr contents were observed in needles taken from the trees grown in northern part of the city and neighboring localities, while the smallest Zn content was noted in samples from the northern part of the Krakow Agglomeration. Obtained results did not prove a substantial correlation between heavy metals content in soil and in pine needles, what points at origin of Zn, Cu and Cr from deposition from the atmosphere. The bioaccumulation coefficients of analyzed elements had higher values in case of samples taken from countryside than those taken from city Krakow terrain.
