Geochemical baselines
Sampling year: 2006
Sample media: humus: concentrated nitric acid extraction from the <2 mm grain-size fraction; topsoil (0–25 cm) and subsoil: aqua regia extractable concentrations from the <2 mm grain-size fraction
Soil parent materials: sand 20 profiles, glacial till 20 profiles, clay 20 profiles
The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) has studied geochemical baseline concentrations in the Satakunta Region using topsoil, subsoil and humus samples collected in 2006. Altogether, 60 sample profiles represented the most common mineral soil types of the region. Aqua regia extraction was used for mineral soil samples.
Anthropogenic atmospheric deposition has affected the concentrations of mercury and lead in topsoil. The natural concentration of arsenic in clay deposits and sometimes also in glacial till is higher than the threshold value given in the Decree on the Assessment of Soil Contamination and Remediation Needs (VNa 214/2007). Baseline concentrations of cobalt and nickel were also found to be higher than the threshold value in some samples.
Report:
Kuusisto, E., Tarvainen, T. & Huhta, P. 2007. Alkuaineiden taustapitoisuudet eri maalajeissa Satakunnan alueella. Geologian tutkimuskeskus, arkistoraportti S41/1141/2007/1. 22 s. http://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/s41_1141_2007_11.pdf
Statistics:
Because the number of samples for each soil type was less than 30, the upper limit values for baseline concentrations have not been calculated in the report. Other statistics such as median and maximum values have been published in the report. Statistics can be calculated using the 'Statistics' tool in the map service.
