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Soil is a sensitive ecological factor. Biodegradable materials from the environment can also be used to deal with serious ecological problems. Soil affecting by remediation medium - garden compost - was analysed for toxic cadmium (Cd) in terms of environmental protection. The objective of this research was to analyse soil and compost at foothill locality of the Tribeč Mountains (Southwestern Slovakia) in the years 2015−2017 to determine Cd contents in soil and compost, pH and to assess Cd bioavailability. The analyses were carried out using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with seven-step Selective Sequential Extraction methods. The results obtained were evaluated statistically using the SAS 9.4 software method by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The results showed that Cd contents in soil had reached 2.96 mg kg−1 and soil with compost (the ratio 1:1) 2.71 mg kg−1 dry matter. Cd contents in the soil exceeded maximum allowed limit of 196%. And deceased by 25% after adding compost. The pH in soil with compost varied from 6.78 to 7.98. The pH prevented the mobility of Cd about 8.3% in average. Statistical dependence was high, which was demonstrated for relationship between Cd in soil, pH and compost. Available Cd forms in soil were 53.3% and soil with compost were 45% in average. The garden compost as a remediation medium reduced Cd bioavailability.

With the development of industry, agriculture, exploitation of natural sources and with boom of settlement density, the environment is being affected by potentially toxic elements; the phenomenon is consequently reflected on human health. Cadmium is a high risk element for the whole environment. The aim of this research was to analyse and evaluate sediments of selected water reservoirs during the ten-year period in order to determine the concentrations of selected, potentially toxic elements. For statistical processing, the correlation coefficient by the Spearman method and the analysis of the index were used. Sediments are reliable indicators of environmental pollution. The analyses of the sediment samples were carried out by the flow electrochemistry and the atomic absorption spectrometry methods. The total concentration of Cd in sediments was up to 22.60 mg kg-1 of dry matter. pH/KCl was marked in the range from 5.6 to 7.2. From statistical processing of sediments data by Spearman, we determined the dependencies between Cd and the following elements: As, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn. The relations between Cd and the following elements: Pb, As and Cu were very highly positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse sediments of the selected water reservoirs of Piargs group. Secondly, our purpose was to determine values of exchange reactions in soil of these sediments during the period from 2001 to 2010 and to evaluate environmental hazards caused by the selected potentially toxic elements affected by pH. Based on the results gained by analysis we aim to determine the correlation and statistical significance of dependencies of the analysed environmental parameters. Two different methods, the flow electrochemical method and the atomic absorption spectrometric method have been used to analyse the content of potentially toxic chemical elements in leachate. The analysis of leachate samples, in order to find out the values of exchange reactions in soil, was carried out by potentiometry. Ascertained values of exchange reactions in soil ranged from 5.6 to 7.2. According to the calculated indices of dependencies, the development of pH/KCl values can be evaluated as moderately dynamic. The calculated indices of the Spearman's correlation coefficient for exchange reactions in soil demonstrate statistically significant dependence, especially for zinc and cadmium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]