HEAVY METALS AVAILABILITY IN SOILS EXPOSED TO TRAFFIC POLLUTION

Evaluation of a degree of soils pollution with heavy metals is usually conducted basing on total content of elements. This evaluation should be supplemented by analysis of content of heavy metals forms directly available for living organisms as well as forms which can be relatively easily mobilized. The aim of the research was to determine the content of selected fractions of copper, zinc and chromium in soils located near road No. 957 in the Zawoja passage. The research material consisted of soil samples taken from 13 points (in each point in the distance of 5 and 200 meters from the road edge). The soil samples underwent sequential chemical extraction using Zeien and Brummer's method. Extracted were 3 fractions of heavy metals: easily soluble forms, exchangeable forms and bonds with manganese oxides. In general, mean contents of the examined fractions of heavy metals were higher in case of the soils located in the distance of 5 m from the road edge than in the soils located in the distance of 200 m from the road. Copper occurred in soils generally as bound with manganese oxides, whereas zinc and chromium - as exchangeable forms.