Heavy metal technogenic pollution of soils in the city of Tver (Russia)

17 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, V, W, Zn, Zr) were detected in the soil of the city of Tver by ICP-AES analysis. They represent three classes of hazard. The average and total concentrations for half of these metals (As, Cu, Fe, Cr, Zr, Ni, Zn) are higher than the values of maximum permissible concentration (MPC). Most metals with maximum concentrations were found in samples from the Moscow and Proletarian Districts of the city. The total soil contamination indicators (Zc) in these areas also reach the maximum values (23.28 and 22.81, respectively). The minimum concentrations of metals in soils are recorded within specially protected areas with patches of natural forests.