Leaching of heavy metals from dredged bottom sediments

Deposition of sediments on land in atmospheric conditions causes many risks connected with environmental protection. Particularly dangerous is leaching of heavy metals from sediments deposited on land The research aimed at assessment of leaching of heavy metals from dredged bottom sediments potentially disposed on land. In this research it has been shown that the leaching of heavy metals during disposal of polluted and unpolluted bottom sediments does not pose threat to the environment. Leaching of the studied metals in relation to their total content in bottom sediments varied from 1 to 5.5.% for Zn, from 0.9 to 9.4% for Cu, from 3.3 to 4.5% for Ni, from 1.6. to 6.9% for Pb, from 0.9 to 19.2% for Cd and from 0.8 to 6.3.% for Cr. Considering their final destination, the potential and actual environmental hazard which the extracted bottom deposits pose should be assessed by determining the leachability of the heavy metals.