Mapping heavy metal distribution by measuring the magnetic susceptibility of soils

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination of soils is an issue that gained more and more attention during recent years. The distribution of heavy metals in soils is generally investigated by chemical analyses. These investigations are expensive and therefore the area coverage is limited. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility are less time consuming and can easily be done using dense grids of measurement points. We tested the potential of this method in a regional study and in the city of vienna. Magnetic susceptibility mapping proved to be a reliable method for the delineation of polluted areas. Sampling points for chemical analyses can be chosen with the help of susceptibility maps. This procedure reduces the costs of heavy metal mapping and at the same time yields high resolution information.