Use of radial differentiation coefficient in assessment of contaminant behaviour in soil profile

Abstract

A plant in the soil–plant system is the biogeochemical barrier for contaminants in soil. The biogeochemical barrier is one of soil barriers that determines contaminant migration patterns and extent and thus have impact on contaminant fate in soil. This barrier is based on the concentration function of plants which is highly displayed under the conditions of technogenic contamination in association with a soil profile. In soil profile cont aminants actively redistribute over the time and especially under the conditions of technogenic contamination. To describe the quantitative differentiation of cont aminants in a soil profile, radial differentiation coefficient is used and example of heavy metal accumulation/leaching over the soil profile in the territory under the technogenic contamination (oil refinery) is presented.