Heavy metals, organics and radioactivity in soil of western Serbia

Abstract Western Serbia is a region well-known for potato production. Concentrations of selected metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and radioactivity were measured in the soil in order to evaluate the quality and characteristics. The examined soils (Luvisol and Pseudogley) showed unsuitable agrochemical characteristics (acid reaction, low content of organic matter and potassium). Some samples contained Ni, Mn and Cr above the maximal permissible concentration (MPC). The average concentration of total PAHs was 1.92 mg/kg, which is larger than the maximal permissible concentration in Serbia but below the threshold values in the European Union for food production. The average radioactivity of 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th, 40 K and the fission product 137 Cs were 60.4 ± 26.2, 33.2 ± 13.4, 49.1 ± 18.5, 379 ± 108 and 36.4 ± 23.3 Bq/kg. Enhanced radioactivity in the soils was found. The total absorbed dose rate in air above the soil at 1 m height calculated for western Serbia was 73.4 nGy/h and the annual effective dose was 90 μSv, which are similar to earlier reports for the study region.