ABSTRACT
In the Zlatna area located in the Western Carpathian
region of Romania, around an industrial complex
involved in mining, metallurgical and chemical activities,
the environment and particularly the soils are polluted
due to the acid rains and heavy metals on 55,664
hectares. About 68% of the soils in the area affected by
the emissions from these industrial activities present a
high vulnerability to the impact of these pollution types.
The increase of the natural soil acidity up to 3.6-3.9 pH
values and soil loading with heavy metals at content
levels exceeding up to 41 (Pb), 11 (Cu), 7 (Zn), 4 (Cd)
times the maximum allowable limits contributed to soil
base depletion, microbiological activity disturbance,
organic matter degradation, soil structure deterioration,
sheet and gully erosion, as well as landslides.