City of Rovaniemi

Sampling year: 2013-2014

Sample media: topsoil (0–10 cm): aqua regia extractable concentrations from the <2 mm grain-size fraction

Land use: various land use classes in the city centre

The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) has investigated geochemical baseline concentrations in the city of Rovaniemi. Altogether, 100 topsoil samples were collected from the city centre during 2013 - 1014. The sample sites represented various land uses in urban areas. Samples were collected from 10-cm-deep pits. Concentrations for 40 elements were analysed after aqua regia extraction. In addition to that, carbon content and pH value were determined from all samples

The concentrations of metals and arsenic in urban topsoil were usually low. The concentrations of arsenic, cobalt, chromium, copper and vanadium in single urban soil samples exceeded the threshold values given in the Decree (VNa 214/2007). Concentrations of lead, cadmium and antimony were higher inside the city centre and along main roads compared to other samples taken from Rovaniemi. PAH and PCB concentrations were determined from 10 samples. However, all these concentrations were lower than the analytical detection limit

The threshold values given in the Decree (VNa 214/2007) can be applied for all metals in Oulu, while the upper limit of baseline variation was lower than the threshold value for all elements

Report

Valkama, M. 2017. Rovaniemen taajama-alueiden maaperän taustapitoisuudet. Oulun yliopisto, kaivannaisalan tiedekunta, Pro gradu –työ. 80 s http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/nbnfioulu-201705252163

Upper limit of baseline variation (SSTP) values reported by Valkama (2017):