Maximum allowable concentrations of essential metals, copper and zinc in the soil, in legislations of different countries

Abstract

It is not so easy to predict the toxicity of metals such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the soil, due to the high number of factors which can affect their toxic effects. However, it can be said, that these effects constantly grows with increasing metals contents in soils, which is a common consequence of growing anthropogenic contamination. Nowadays, for the sake of minimization of the present contamination (eventual remediation of contaminated areas) and prevention of any possible contamination in the future, many countries across the World sated some regulations which limit even the contents of essential elements such as Cu and Zn. In their regulations, they incorporated the results of those topical scientific knowledge and methodologies which provide the most accurate insight into the effects of different metal concentrations on different living organisms in the circumstances of different soil conditions. In this paper, a survey of maximum allowable concentrations (MAC) in the domestic and foreign legislative is given, as well as the list of the main parameters which can affect the toxicity of metals in soils.