**3. Results and discussions**

**Cadmium** in the soil registered levels that ranged from 0 and 0.86 mg/kg, in the urban areas and in the rural areas. Compared to the threshold value it can be seen that the levels of cadmium in soil, in both urban and rural areas, have not exceeded the threshold value (1mg/kg). It can be seen that the level of cadmium in soil is slightly higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.

**Lead** in soil, registered levels that ranged from 0 and 96.11 mg/kg in the urban areas and from 0 to 147.67 mg/kg in rural areas. It can be seen that, both in the urban and rural areas, the lead levels in soil exceeded the threshold value (20 mg/kg). The alert threshold for sensitive soil (50 mg/kg) was exceeded in both the urban and rural areas.

**Figure 1.** Lead levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 2.** Lead levels in soil in rural areas

Comparing the two charts it can be seen that, in the same area (Constanța county), the level of lead in soil is over the alert threshold in the urban and in the rural area. In other two counties (Buzău and Ialomița) the levels of lead in soil are exceeding the threshold limit both in the urban area and in the rural area. There are other two counties beside Constanta, where the levels of lead are exceeding the alert threshold in urban areas (Olt and Sibiu). In rural areas it can be seen that the number of counties where lead levels in soil exceed the threshold is higher than in urban areas.

**Copper** in soil registered levels that ranged from 0 and 128.5 mg/kg in the urban areas and from 0 to 80.43 mg/kg in rural areas. It can be seen that the levels identified in soil exceeded, both in the urban and rural areas, the threshold value (20 mg/kg). Also, the alert threshold for sensitive soil (100 mg/kg) was exceeded in a single urban area. In rural areas a slightly higher level of copper in the soil was observed.

**Figure 3.** Copper levels in soil in urban areas

**3. Results and discussions**

288 Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination

**Figure 1.** Lead levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 2.** Lead levels in soil in rural areas

mg/kg) was exceeded in both the urban and rural areas.

areas.

**Cadmium** in the soil registered levels that ranged from 0 and 0.86 mg/kg, in the urban areas and in the rural areas. Compared to the threshold value it can be seen that the levels of cadmium in soil, in both urban and rural areas, have not exceeded the threshold value (1mg/kg). It can be seen that the level of cadmium in soil is slightly higher in rural areas compared to urban

**Lead** in soil, registered levels that ranged from 0 and 96.11 mg/kg in the urban areas and from 0 to 147.67 mg/kg in rural areas. It can be seen that, both in the urban and rural areas, the lead levels in soil exceeded the threshold value (20 mg/kg). The alert threshold for sensitive soil (50

Comparing the two charts it can be seen that, in the same area (Constanța county), the level of lead in soil is over the alert threshold in the urban and in the rural area. In other two counties

**Figure 4.** Copper levels in soil in rural areas

The alert threshold was exceeded in a single county in urban areas. The number of counties where was found levels of copper in soil, in rural areas, that exceeded the threshold was double in comparison with urban areas.

**Nickel** in soil registered levels that ranged from 0 and 44 mg/kg in the urban areas and from 0 to 41.6 mg/kg in rural areas. The levels of nickel found in soil samples exceeded the threshold value (20 mg/kg), in the urban and rural areas. Nickel recorded slightly higher levels in the soil of rural areas, but, also, were found peaks in urban soil. The alert threshold for sensitive soil (75 mg/kg) was not exceeded in either urban or rural area.

**Figure 5.** Nickel levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 6.** Nickel levels in soil in rural areas

As it can be seen in the charts above, the soil pollution with nickel is similar in the urban and rural areas, regarding the number of counties affected.

**Manganese** in soil registered levels that ranged from 0 and 1256.57 mg/kg in the urban areas and in rural areas the levels ranged from 0 to 1072. 62 mg/kg. Compared to the threshold value, the levels of manganese found in soil exceeded the threshold, both in the urban and rural areas (900 mg/kg). Alert threshold (1500 mg/kg) was not exceeded in neither rural areas nor urban areas.

**Figure 7.** Manganese levels in soil in urban areas

The alert threshold was exceeded in a single county in urban areas. The number of counties where was found levels of copper in soil, in rural areas, that exceeded the threshold was double

**Nickel** in soil registered levels that ranged from 0 and 44 mg/kg in the urban areas and from 0 to 41.6 mg/kg in rural areas. The levels of nickel found in soil samples exceeded the threshold value (20 mg/kg), in the urban and rural areas. Nickel recorded slightly higher levels in the soil of rural areas, but, also, were found peaks in urban soil. The alert threshold for sensitive

As it can be seen in the charts above, the soil pollution with nickel is similar in the urban and

soil (75 mg/kg) was not exceeded in either urban or rural area.

in comparison with urban areas.

290 Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination

**Figure 5.** Nickel levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 6.** Nickel levels in soil in rural areas

rural areas, regarding the number of counties affected.

**Figure 8.** Manganese levels in soil in rural areas

The threshold was exceeded, both in urban and rural areas, in only one county in the middle of the country (Mureș).

Concerning the levels of **total chromium** in soil, values are similar, in urban and rural areas. The levels found in soil were between 0 and 40.81 mg/kg in urban areas and between 0 and 57.23 mg/kg in rural areas. Only the threshold (30 mg/kg) was exceeded in the urban and rural areas and not the alert threshold (100 mg/kg).

**Figure 9.** Total chromium levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 10.** Total chromium levels in soil in rural areas

The total chromium levels registered in soil exceeded the threshold in a small number of counties. Only in one county (Mureș), levels of chromium exceeding the threshold were found in both the urban and rural areas.

**Cobalt** levels were higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. The highest value was found in the soil of a farmland in Covasna county, where the level of cobalt was equal to 20.23 mg/kg, exceeding the threshold value (15 mg/kg) but not the alert threshold (30 mg/kg).

**Figure 11.** Total cobalt levels in soil in urban areas

57.23 mg/kg in rural areas. Only the threshold (30 mg/kg) was exceeded in the urban and rural

The total chromium levels registered in soil exceeded the threshold in a small number of counties. Only in one county (Mureș), levels of chromium exceeding the threshold were found

**Cobalt** levels were higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. The highest value was found in the soil of a farmland in Covasna county, where the level of cobalt was equal to 20.23 mg/kg, exceeding the threshold value (15 mg/kg) but not the alert threshold (30 mg/kg).

areas and not the alert threshold (100 mg/kg).

292 Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination

**Figure 9.** Total chromium levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 10.** Total chromium levels in soil in rural areas

in both the urban and rural areas.

**Figure 12.** Total cobalt levels in soil in rural areas

From the charts, it can be seen that it is only one hot spot where the levels of cobalt in soil exceeded the threshold.

**Zinc levels** ranged between 0 and 275.35 mg/kg in the soil of urban areas and between 0 – 131.79 mg/kg in the soil of rural areas. The levels recorded were similar in urban and rural areas. One single higher value was found in Sibiu county.

**Figure 13.** Zinc levels in soil in urban areas

A similar situation with zinc pollution of the soil was found in the urban and in the rural areas of Romania as number of counties affected.

**Mercury** levels in the soil ranged between 0 and 0.265 mg/kg in the soil of urban areas and between 0 – 0.305 mg/kg in the soil of rural areas. The threshold value is equal to 0.1 mg/kg and was exceeded in urban and rural areas, but the alert threshold is equal to 1 mg/kg and was not exceeded in neither urban nor in rural areas. Special mention must be made for district Ferneziu of the town Baia Mare where there is a historical pollution of the environment. The level of mercury found in this area was equal to 0.265 mg/kg.

**Figure 15.** Mercury levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 13.** Zinc levels in soil in urban areas

294 Environmental Risk Assessment of Soil Contamination

**Figure 14.** Zinc levels in soil in rural areas

of Romania as number of counties affected.

level of mercury found in this area was equal to 0.265 mg/kg.

A similar situation with zinc pollution of the soil was found in the urban and in the rural areas

**Mercury** levels in the soil ranged between 0 and 0.265 mg/kg in the soil of urban areas and between 0 – 0.305 mg/kg in the soil of rural areas. The threshold value is equal to 0.1 mg/kg and was exceeded in urban and rural areas, but the alert threshold is equal to 1 mg/kg and was not exceeded in neither urban nor in rural areas. Special mention must be made for district Ferneziu of the town Baia Mare where there is a historical pollution of the environment. The

**Figure 16.** Mercury levels in soil in rural areas

For the situation of soil pollution with mercury it must be stressed that, in the area of Mara‐ mureș there is a historical pollution due to a non-ferrous industry existing for a long period of time.

**Arsenic** levels in soil were between 0 and 8.22 mg/kg in urban areas and 0 and 9.59 mg/kg soil. Arsenic concentrations were higher in rural areas compared to urban soil. The reference threshold is equal to 5 mg/kg and the alert threshold is equal to 15 mg/kg. The threshold value was exceeded but the not the alert threshold.

**Figure 17.** Arsenic levels in soil in urban areas

**Figure 18.** Arsenic levels in soil in rural areas

Comparing the two maps, it can be seen that, levels of pollution exceeding the threshold were found in the Sibiu and Mureș County, in the middle of the country, in both urban and rural areas.
