Environment contamination with heavy metals contained in waste

Abstract

The paper analyzes the sources of the most widespread heavy metals contained in waste. Different directions of human activity are considered with emphasis on waste containing heavy metals. As the largest heavy metals suppliers defined waste of metallurgy, chemical industry, production of electrical devices, batteries and accumulators, sewage sludge, ash and slag of coal-fired power stations and waste incineration plants, and the recent one is household waste. In agricultural regions these sources include waste of pesticides and fertilizers production and use. The sources are described for each heavy metal, and for household waste they are analyzed according to certain type of waste.