GEOCHEMICAL SURVEY AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SOILS OF CITY OF GYUMRY (ARMENIA).

The article considers the outcomes of pedogeochemical and ecological investigations of Gyumri soils implemented for the first time after the devastating earthquake of 1988. 75% of the city soils are characterized by a low level of summary pollution with heavy metals. However, a moderate level of potential ecological risk is common to the city, and from positions of both geochemical and ecological risk assessment Cd and Pb are priority pollutants to Gyumri soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]