EVALUATION OF ARSENIC STATUS OF SOILS AROUND SOME WILD STORAGE AREAS IN THRACE REGION, TURKEY

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the arsenic status of soil samples taken from 18 landfills and around 3 different points in Thrace Region, Turkey. The arsenic contents found in soil samples were evaluated according to the Regulation on Soil Pollution Control and Point Source Contaminated Sites. The arsenic contents in the research areas ranged from 0.00% to 12.36%. In approximately 96% of 54 soil samples, arsenic contents were found above the limit value of 0.4 ppm. The relation of arsenic contents determined at the measurement points with other soil properties was investigated. It has been observed that the most important feature affecting the arsenic content is the soil texture. The amount of arsenic increased as the amount of clay in the soil texture increased. It is estimated that the arsenic concentrations found in the wild storage areas are high due to industrial and agricultural wastes. This situation is particularly inconvenient for plants to be grown in the surrounding land.