**1. Introduction**

Contamination of soil and water with organic and inorganic pollutants is a subject of interest to European policy, looking for new ways of preventing pollution and remediating polluted sites. Source and type of contamination influences the nature of pollution and methods of remediation. Thus, accidental discharge can be isolated more easily from a small area of soil, while the contamination of water is more difficult to control. Deposition of particulate matter can contaminate wide surfaces with low concentrations of contaminants. However, particulate matter is the main source of contamination of soils with heavy metals.

Many international researches have studied the concentrations of metals in soil, in correlation with texture, structure and pH of soil. In order to reduce the concentration of heavy metal to a level allowing development of all crop plants under a secure intake level of heavy metals, pollution mitigation measures should be applied on those soils. Depending on land use, the legislation of each country establishes the normal and maximal limits of heavy metals in soil.

The development of metallurgical activities in an irresponsible manner and without taking into account the environmental damage, lead to a historical accumulation of heavy metals in soil. The concentration of heavy metals in soil varies significantly depending on the type of soil and geographic region. This indicates that the parental material, climatic conditions and human activities have a predominant impact on the chemical forms (speciation) and on the mobility of metals in soil. In addition to the methods of prevention and mitigation of pollutants emissions, there are a number of methods of remediation, based on soil stripping and replace‐ ment or methods of bioremediation.

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Across Europe, an extensive study was conducted concerning the concentration of heavy metals in soil [1], involving the collaboration of several organizations: EuroGeo Survey, Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and the Forum of European Geological Survey Directors (FOREGS). The project was conducted between 1996 and 2003, but unfortunately did not cover the Romanian territory. At the end of the project were drawn distribution maps of all metals in soils and sediments found along rivers and a Geochemical Atlas of Europe was designed.

Another significant study is Alina Kabata-Pendias book "Trace Elements in Soils and Plants" published so far in four editions [2]. This book provides a concise but comprehensive overview of the biogeochemistry of trace elements found in the soil-plant system. Includes over 400 references to recent studies that have been conducted to determine the metal content of the soil-plant system and highlights the significance of anthropogenic factors leading to the change of state elements in soil and plants. Subjects are bioindicators behaviour in the environment, soil remediation, and hyperaccumulation and hyperextraction of heavy metals from soil.

Organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) have established very comprehensive reports related to the concentra‐ tion of metals in food and doses considered daily necessary, maximum intake for different age groups, maximum limits in food and soils (Table 1). In Romania, the reference values for trace metals in soils are governed by Order 756 / 3rd of November 1997 [3]. It regulates normal values, alert thresholds and action levels for different trace elements by use of soils.


**Table 1** Maximum limits of heavy metals in soil, according with Canadian and Dutch standards (ppm) [4]

The present study completes FOREGS project and aims to establish the concentrations of heavy metals in an industrial area, near the city of Targoviste. Depending on the climatic character‐ istics, on topography and on pollution rose, we have established representative points of soil sampling for the area. Samples were collected from both the surface of soil to determine the horizontal distribution of heavy metals in the industrial area, as well as on profile (0-40 cm) to determine the vertical distribution of the metals and to assess the extent of historical pollution.
