common properties. Using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov-
test with Lillienfors correction of probabilities,
the data were found to be log-normal distributed,
which is a prerequisite for the analysis.
Fig. 2 illustrates the metal concentrations in the
coordinate system of two principal components (PC).
Three metal groups are clearly distinguished. Co and
Ni are highly loaded in PC 2. Their concentrations in
the soils did not differ significantly within the area
and within the profiles. This suggests that their concentrations
in the soils are dominated by the parent
material, as anthropogenic emissions of these heavy
metals are relatively rare especially for Co. PC 1 is
highly loaded with Cu, Pb and Zn, a group of heavy
metals which are commonly found to be anthropogenic
enriched in the topsoils of urban environments
(e.g., Culbard et al., 1991; Lux, 1986; Manta et al.,
2002). Cr is neither highly loaded in PC 1 nor in PC 2.
This reflects different anthropogenic or geogenic
sources and possible pathways of Cr accumulation
compared to Cu, Pb and Zn.
3.2. Spatial distribution of Pb, Cu and Zn
Fig. 3 illustrates the spatial distribution of Pb, Cu
and Zn concentrations, in the topsoils of the Damascus
Ghouta as stacked bar plot. Each site from
which soil was sampled is shown by a stacked bar
with height proportional to concentration. The three
metals show similar spatial distributions within the
study area which is in agreement with a similar study
of Kelly et al. (1996) for urban soils in Britain. The
distributions of these metals clearly reveal two areas
with increased values. The areas are marked by circles