Flood induced heavy metal and arsenic contamination of Elbe river floodplain soils

Although the qualities of the river water and the sediments of the river Elbe have greatly improved over the past twenty years, both the suspended matter and the sediments are still contaminated with heavy metals and arsenic (HM). This contamination exceeds the action values specified in the Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance (BBodSchV). The status of floodplain soil contamination with HM along the entire German alluvial Elbe was investigated and evaluated, based on former research activities and recently performed analyses after the extreme flood event in August 2002 and the subsequent winter flooding. The section downstream of the river Mulde inflow was contaminated much higher than the upstream section. With the installation of permanently marked observation areas a tool for soil quality monitoring has been established for the future.