The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between magnetic susceptibility of topsoil and content of heavy metal being the result of urban and industrial dust-fall. Tools for this study were some complementary statistic methods such as: correlation analysis using Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman rank correlation coefficient, stepwise regression and .chi-kwadrat" test. The base for statistic analysis was dataset of ca. 600 topsoil samples (20 cm) form Upper Silesian Industrial Region, including content ofAs, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb as well as values of low-field specific magnetic susceptibility (x) measured for the same samples. The study clearly confirms a significant correlation between the level of inorganic contamination and the measured susceptibility value, although the correlations in soil are usually more sophisticated. The most often observed correlation coefficients between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals content were on medium (r = 0.5--0.7) and high (r = 0.7--0.9) level. The statistic analysis of the studied parameters can not be based only on Pearson correlation coefficient. The use of some complementary statistic methods allows for more correct interpretation of existing relationships. The comparable values of Pearson linear correlation coefficient and Spearman rank the correlation coefficient, observed in studied dataset within the range of accuracy used, shows the existence of linear correlation. The similar conclusions have been drawn from the analysis of reverse stepwise regression. The observed model of linear multiple regression explains almost 80% of variability of the X value. Foregoing statistical analysis confirms some earlier observations that magnetometry based on topsoil magnetic susceptibility measurement could be a very interesting and alternative or complementary method for monitoring anthropogenic soil pollution and especially heavy metal contamination level.

This work presents a method for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of soil samples based on interactions of magnetic particles contained in a tested sample with a weighed permanent magnet placed in the balance mechanical design. The MYA 2.4Y microbalance manufactured by Radwag Wagi Elektroniczne, Poland, was used to perform mass measurements. The weighing system was adjusted for mass indication using a certified mass standard, and for magnetic susceptibility indication using a certified magnetic susceptibility standard. The volume of each analysed soil sample was 3.93 cm ³ and was similar to the volume and the size of the magnetic susceptibility standard. The research was carried out for 10 soil samples with a magnetic susceptibility range varying from 20 to 1600x10 ^-8 m ³ kg ^-1. The soil samples contained technogenic magnetic particles and particles of natural magnetite of geogenic origin. The study was performed for a field of 2 mT.

A new investigation and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the locss-palaeosol sequence at Prymorskc, SW Ukraine is presented using soil structures, grain size, mineral magnetics, organic carbon and calcium carbonate determinations. Six units of the established Ukraine Quaternary stratigraphical scheme have been identified and analysed above and including the Zavadivka (Holsteinian) marker horizon - Dnieper, Kaidaky, Tiasmyn, Pryluky and Udai. Precipitation and temperature are tentatively reconstructed from soil and sedimentary proxies calibrated by modern analogues. Increased temperatures and precipitation to today are inferred for the red-brown Zavadivka palaeosol. Overlying Zavadivka is the Dnieper loess containing a gley and two chernozcms above, possibly representing climatic variations of the Saalian Glaciation. The calcified chernozem Kaidaky is separated by a thin loess from the brown/ chestnut Pryluky palaeosol (Eemian) which has features indicating drier conditions to the present. Non-gleyed palaeosols exhibit an enhanced magnetic susceptibility (MS) signal relative to the less weathered loess and highlights the palaeoclimatic potential of the technique. The most well developed palaeosol from this study has the highest MS value (Zavadivka: 80-1 o·8 SJ units) but this relationship is not always found in the Black Sea region. Previous MS analyses at Prymorske (Nawrocki et al. 1999) report significantly higher values to those of this study. Consequently the MS curve at Prymorske cannot be used with confidence for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and inter-regional correlation without further investigation and modern analogue study.

Until now, dust arising from lime manufacture has been considered harmless to the environment so it has been investigated marginally from the standpoint of environmental protection, especially when it came to magnetic properties and heavy metal content. The aim of the research was filling the gap in this area. The research comprised measurements of magnetic susceptibility, the content of heavy metals, reaction (pH) and specific conductivity of lime dust and also raw material and fuel used for lime production. The samples were taken from one of the lime plants located in Opole Province. Similar investigations were also performed for dust taken from the nearby cement plant using dry method of cement production. It was proven that magnetic susceptibility, heavy metal content and conductivity of lime dust was lower in comparison to cement dust, which resulted from the fact that the lime plant used neither low raw materials nor additives. Due to the high atmosphere dust level in the vicinity of the investigated plants, extremely basic reaction of the tested dust and high content of metals, the studied dust cause alkalization of soils and contribute to the increase of heavy metal content in soils, posing a threat to the environment.

The Sudety Mountains are located close to industrial areas of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic and are the most polluted Polish mountains, Among air pollutants such as SO2 NO,, fly ashes from local and transboundary power plants emission have a significant input. In determination of soil pollutants, magnetic susceptibility measurements find application. The use otmagnetic measurements as a proxy lor chemical methods is possible because air pollutants and magnetic particles arc interrelated. The major sources or air pollution in the Sudety Mountains arc fly ashes from burning process of fossil fuels. This paper presents content and distribution of heavy metals in soil profiles, depending on their natural or industrial origin and the results of magnetic susceptibility measurements.

The aim of the research was to study the influence of different tree stands on topsoil magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal contamination in the soil. The study was performed in the old park in Pruhonice (near Prague) in the Czech Republic. On the relatively small area of Pruhonice Park, five different coniferous tree species (pine, spruce, blue spruce, fir, Douglas fir) and five deciduous species (beech, red oak, common oak, hornbeam, birch) were found, growing in small clusters on the same geological background. Also other natural and anthropogenic factors such as distance from industrial and urban sources of pollution, type of soil, climate, etc. were similar. The magnetic susceptibility was measured directly in the field. Twenty topsoil cores 0.3 m long (2 under each tree species) were collected and also soil samples from under each tree (litter horizon) were taken. The magnetic susceptibility values of the topsoil profiles and of litter layer samples were obtained. Heavy metal analyses of surface samples (litter horizon) were also carried out. The field magnetic susceptibility (K) data are more or less comparable to the laboratory data (x). High heavy metal contents corresponding to high magnetic susceptibility values are observed in the litter horizon. A positive correlation between magnetic susceptibility and some heavy metals was observed. The results suggest that the type of forest may also influence the values of magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal content. Generally higher magnetic susceptibility values were observed in the coniferous forest, except for the surface layer (litter horizon) where the K values are lower than in the deciduous forest.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the magnetic susceptibility of the boundary area ofwestern and southern Poland. The investigation was carried out in woodlands of chosen forest districts. Samples were collected selectively from the occurring genetic horizons ofpit soils. The low-field magnetic susceptibility was obtained in the laboratory using the MS2B Bartington apparatus. Heavy metal content (Fe, Zn, Pb and Cu) was analyzed using AAS method, after the mineralization in the 70% HClO4 + HNO3 solution. The magnetic susceptibility results arc very diverse and above 80% of them exceed 50· l0·-8 m3/kg, that is, a border value suggesting an occurrence ofa magnetic anomaly. Heavy metal content varies in a wide range and the highest values are observed in mountainous areas, where the impact of geological structure is visible. Obviously, the input of dust emissions is significant, what is confirmed by well and positive values of correlation coefficients between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal content (especially lead) in the area of cluster III.

The article comprises synthesis of magnetically susceptible carbon sorbents based on bio raw materials – beet pulp. The synthesis was performed by one- and two-step methodology using FeCl3 as an activating agent. X-ray diffraction methods showed an increase in the distance between graphene layers to 3.7 Å in biocarbon synthesized by a two-step tech-nique and a slight decrease in inter-graphene distance to 3.55 Å for biocarbon synthesized by an one-step technique. In both magnetically susceptible samples, the Fe3O4 magnetite phase was identified. Biocarbon synthesized by a two-step technique is characterized by a microporous structure in which a significant volume fraction (about 35%) is made by pores of 2.2 and 5 nm radius. In the sample after a one-step synthesis, a significant increase in the fraction of pores with radii from 5 to 30 nm and a decrease in the proportion of pores with radii greater than 30 nm can be detected. Based on the analysis of low-angle X-ray scattering data, it is established that carbon without magnetic activation has the smallest specific area of 212 m2∙сm–3, carbon after one-stage synthesis has a slightly larger area of 280 m2∙сm–3, and after two-stage synthesis has the largest specific surface area in 480 m2∙сm–3. The adsorption isotherms of blue methylene have been studied. Biocarbon ob-tained by two-step synthesis has been shown to have significantly better adsorption properties than other synthesized bio-carbons. Isotherms have been analysed based on the Langmuir model.