Urban geochemistry: Investigations in the Berlin metropolitan area

The distribution of 41 trace and 11 major elements in 4000 samples of topsoils (0-20 cm) from the Berlin Megacity is interpreted. The detailed comparative analysis of the element distributions and the results of factor analysis showed that the distributions of the elements Al, K, Na, Rb, Zr, Nb and Ti are mainly natural origin, i.e. related to the composition of the parent material. Industrial and commercial areas often display considerably elevated values for Mo, Ni, As, Ag, Cr, Sb, Fe, Mn, Mg, P, TOC and especially Pb, Hg and electrical conductivity relative to the geogenic background of the area surrounding Berlin. Industrial areas tend to be characterised by contamination of the subsoil with Cu, Cd, Zn, Hg, Pb and Sn. In the area around Berlin, extensive, strong anamalies of Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu and Hg occur near iron and steel industries and construction materials industries, as well as in the vicinity of sewage farms.