Bioavailability of lead, cadmium, and nickel in Tatra Mountain National Park soil

Our research investigated the bioavailability of Pb, Cd, and Ni in the soil of Tatra Mountain National Park (Chocholowska Valley, Koscieliska Valley, Malej Laki Valley, and Strazyska Valley). The content of Pb, Cd, and Ni was estimated using the ASA method with accuracy of 0.1 mu g/g. Rudd's methodology was applied to estimate direct and indirect bioavailability of the metals in question. Ions of Pb in prevailing amounts occur in indirectly bioavailable forms of carbonates and organic compounds. Content of Pb and Ni as scarce particles is much higher in comparison to an average content of Cd in the soil. The amounts measured corresponding to 10 percentile and geometric mean can be used as a reference value in prospective research held in Tatra Mountain National Park or in other protected areas.