Among various heavy metal sources the metallurgic industry is the most threatening because emitted metals presented are the chemical forms in which metals are found in soil are more bioavailable and thus very easily are introduced into the environment and spread in both soils and plants. In this study such a situation is presented and the potential negative effect of emitted metals on soil and vegetables is estimated. Therefore, the following indicators were used: bioconcentration factors calculated for the total amount of metals (BCF) as well as daily intake of metal (DIM) and health risk index (HRI). Analyzed soils and vegetables originated from allotment gardens located at different distances from local industrial plants. The greatest amounts of metals in investigated materials (soils and plants) were found for the industrial zone and the lowest for samples representing the suburban zone. Among the analyzed metals Zn showed the highest (223.94–2645.13 mg·kg⁻¹ for soils and 9.14–49.28 mg·kg⁻¹ for plants), and Cd the lowest levels (1.77–15.2 mg·kg⁻¹ for soils and 0.05–0.46 mg·kg⁻¹ for plants). Regardless of the metal, the lowest BCF values were calculated for plants from the industrial zone and the highest from the urban site. Generally, BCF values calculated for vegetables were low and comparable for carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage. BCF values obtained for beetroots were higher in comparison to other vegetables. Regardless of plants, DIM values for Cd and Pb were low and comparable. DIM values for Cu and Zn were higher, but simultaneously strongly differentiated depending on the analyzed vegetables. A similar tendency was found in the case of HRI. The highest values were recorded for Cu and Zn in tomatoes. Regardless of the individual metals, the calculated values for DIM and HRI indices increased in the following sequence: beetroot < cabbage < carrot < tomato. The Zn and Cu contents in the studied types of vegetables do not exceed the maximum permissible levels recommended by WHO/FAO. In contrast, Pb concentrations were higher than the imposed standards in all the analyzed vegetable samples. On the basis of obtained DIM and HRI indices, consumption of vegetables cultivated in industrial areas should be restricted due to health risks related to heavy metals contained in plants.

The findings of a study on the amount of heavy metals in the soils of a significant industrial area are presented in this scientific publication. Samples were collected in various contaminated locations of the city for chemical analysis: in the northern industrial zone, in the northeastern industrial zone, in the central residential zone, in the suburban zone. The contents of Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd were determined in the prepared soil samples. Based on the results of chemical analysis, it was discovered that the average concentrations of the acid-soluble form of the studied heavy metals exceed the background values. The total reserve and physicochemical characteristics of soils determine the amount of acid-soluble heavy metals present in the soil. Thus, the maximum content of mobile heavy metals was discovered in the meadow-chernozem soil, and the minimum in the southern chernozems. A large mosaic content of heavy metals was revealed for the territory under consideration. On average, the acid-soluble heavy metals are characterized by zinc-cadmium geochemical specialization. It has been established that the soils of residential areas and the northeastern industrial zone are classified as medium pollution, the soils of the northern industrial zone are highly polluted, and the soils of the eastern outskirts are to an acceptable level of pollution. Key words: soil, heavy metals, environmental assessment, soil pollution.

In this study, ecological evaluation of the soils of the gardens located in the industrial area and in the suburbs was given. The results of physical and chemical analysis of soil samples were summarized, and the obtained data were statistically processed. Soil and vegetable samples for analysis were taken from private gardens located in the city near «Kazzinc» LLC. In addition, samples were collected from the outskirts of the city - Akhmirova village for comparative analysis. These samples were prepared for chemical analysis and the content of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd was determined. It was found that the amount of heavy metals analyzed in the soils of the studied areas is several times higher in the industrial area than in the suburban area. The average values of the analyzed metals in the industrial soils of all studied regions are higher than the safe level accepted in Kazakhstan. In the samples taken in the industrial area, the content of all investigated heavy metals was 2 to 8 times higher than the internationally recommended safe level. Despite being grown in the same environmental conditions, vegetables have different accumulation levels of heavy metals. However, it should be noted that the high concentration of heavy metals in the soil has an effect on their content of the plant. The highest amount of heavy metals was found in vegetables grown in the industrial area, and the lowest in the suburban area.