Assessing heavy metal content in soils surrounding electroplating plants

The aim of the present work was to establish the effect the Łódź electroplating plant on the content of chromium, zinc, and copper in soil. The soil samples for analysis were collected from the surface layer within the border of the city of Łódź. The following general properties of the agricultural soil used for the study were determined: pH, organic matter content, and mechanical analysis. The concentration of each of the metals was determined in soil extract or mineralizate by FAAS. The results indicate that the metals content in soil samples collected in the area of the city of Łódź depends on the type of processes carried out in the plating and from its location in the city.