A chemical and biological assessment of the state of urban soils

This paper assesses the state of urban soils with the methods of chemical analysis and biotesting using the city of Kirov as an example. The content of the total and mobile forms of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe, and Pb), pH of water and salt extracts, and content of humus in different regions of the city of Kirov are determined. Urban soils are characterized by a low level of pollution according to the total index of anthropogenic pollution (Z c). Biotesting involves tests objects of different trophic groups: Daphnia magna Straus, Paramecium caudatum, and Escherichia coli. Results from comparatively analyzing the sensitivity of different biotesting methods are presented.