Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2014, Volume 17, Issue 1

The Assessment of Heavy Metals Content in Soil Samples Taken from the Vicinity of Thermal Power Plants

Abstract

Combustion of the fosil fuel and oil in thermal power plants is one of the major sources of environmental pollution due to generation of huge amounts of ash, which is disposed off in large ponds in the vicinity of the thermal power plants. The ash usually  contains  different amounts of heavy metals that can get into the soil  and surface water  through  leaching  causing their pollution. The atmosphere is an important transport medium for heavy metals  released from ash generated   from  thermal power plants and deposited in landfills. The soils normally contain low background levels of heavy metals, but  the industrial processes and other human activities affect the natural geological and biological redistribution of these metals  and  determine the  pollution of the air, water and soil. The purpose of this study was to investigate the heavy metal content, such as Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Zn, in the soils from the area of two thermal power plants located in Bucharest, Romania. The experimental data obtained were analyzed  and compared with the admitted levels for this metals according to the Romanian legislation.