ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Heavy Metals and Arsenic Soil Contamination
Resulting from Wastewater Sludge Urban
Landfill Disposal
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1
Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Saint-Petersburg State University,
7-9 Universitetskaya emb., 199034, Saint- Petersburg, Russia
2
Scientific Research Center for Ecological Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
18 Korpusnaya str. 197110, Saint- Petersburg, Russia
Submission date: 2019-12-06
Final revision date: 2020-04-30
Acceptance date: 2020-05-03
Online publication date: 2020-08-17
Publication date: 2020-10-05
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2021;30(1):81-89
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ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study is to assess the soil contamination of a sewage sludge landfill, bordering
specially protected natural areas. The content of heavy metals and arsenic in the landfill soil was
assessed based on national soil quality standards in terms of monitoring landfills for priority pollutants
(Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, As), and in comparison with background concentrations for sod-podzolic soils in the
European part of Russia. Soil samples were taken at 9 observation points from depths of 5-20 cm. The
concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic were studied through mass spectrometry with ionization in
inductively coupled argon plasma and atomic absorption spectrometry. The results of the study showed
a significant increase in Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in 2017 compared to 2011. The concentrations of As
decreased slightly, but the concentration range remained stable. The concentrations of heavy metals
and arsenic had the following maximum range: Cd1083>Cu45>Pb16>Zn5 >Ni4>As3 in comparison with
background concentrations of these elements in the European part of Russia. In general, the degree of
the landfill soil contamination can be described as dangerous and very dangerous according to national
soil quality standards.