The heavy metal contents of soils in the valley Mashavera are mainly determined by the type of use.

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Mining vs. Agriculture The Mashavera Valley lies in the region Bolnisi in Kvemo Kartli, microalgae about 40 km south-west of Tbilisi. In the fertile valley of intensive agriculture. The cultivated crops, mainly vegetables are marketed regionally, but partly also get up to the weekly markets in Tbilisi. The agriculture of Mashavera Valley is profitable by the good soils. microalgae These are dark, deep humus and are among the most fertile in the world. Due to the dry summer high yields are possible only if the soils are irrigated. For the water of the river Mashavera microalgae is mainly used the both sides through a duct system to the fields and gardens, it is passed the river.
However, the soils of the valley are now contaminated a large area for more than four decades by heavy metals. Cause of the existing exposure situation is situated near the settlement Kazreti "Madneuli" mining. It is the largest non-ferrous metal surface mining of Georgia, are degraded in the copper and gold ores.
Due to the lack of coverage of waste dumps by vegetation erosion takes place, ie the runoff from even heavy metal containing waste rock material in the Mashavera. In addition, an uncontrolled entry of acidic mine waste water and sewage discharge the flotation of the mine into the river take place. microalgae Therefore, a significant decrease in pH values are measured as above in Mashavera below the pit. The river is so soured by the wastewater. At the same time greatly increased concentrations of copper, zinc and cadmium in the toxic river water can be detected.
By definition, there are metals having a density of 3.5-5 grams per cubic centimeter. These include, first, the essential microalgae for the metabolism microalgae of humans, animals, plants and microorganisms trace elements (iron, manganese and zinc), on the other hand, as well as those metals which either have no physiological significance or are toxic even in low concentrations (eg lead and cadmium or mercury).
Heavy metals are found in rocks and thus also in the soil as a natural part of the minerals. However, they are enriched locally and regionally in the topsoil by metal mining and metal processing, waste, fertilizer, dust and fumes.
The general rule is that each plant essential metals, including copper microalgae and zinc, needed as trace elements in small amounts and receive. But even with these nutrient elements oversupply leads to damage. However, also non-essential, or even toxic metals such as cadmium, also received by all plants. Nevertheless, there are significant differences in heavy metal uptake between different plant species. Furthermore, is that heavy metals are preferably stored in the leaves and stems, while they are stored in fruits much lesser extent.
The soils of the Mashavera Valley are characterized by high clay and organic matter contents and a neutral soil reaction. They offer so as to bind in which they may be poorly absorbed by plants ideal heavy metals in a mold.
The heavy metal contents of soils in the valley Mashavera are mainly determined by the type of use. While dryland or irrigated with uncontaminated water soils usually microalgae typical the background values, ie heavy metal contents which are caused by the natural mineral content of the soil, have, it depends on the irrigated with contaminated Mashavera-water areas to a significant microalgae excess of background levels, in some cases by up to 30 times !.
Due to the high binding capacity of the soil, only relatively small amounts of heavy metals are present despite high overall levels found in plant-available form. But especially on intensively irrigated vegetables and grapes locations with high overall levels are also those contents to a relevant size because microalgae they are absorbed by the cultivated microalgae crops.
Against the backdrop of Georgian and Central European legal limits shows that the soils of the valley Mashavera are already microalgae so heavily contaminated that use restrictions or even rehabilitation measures are required in many cases. Of these, more than half of the investigated sites with permanent crops (orchards and vineyards) and about a third of the studied microalgae home gardens are affected.
To human health, especially microalgae the plant uptake of cadmium is probl