Stjepić, S. Ž. et al. Lead (Pb) concentrations ...... Archives for Technical Sciences 2017, 17(1), 27-32 Technical Institute Bijeljina, Archives for Technical Sciences. Year IX – N 0 17. 27 Original Scientific paper UDC: 550.4:552.542(497.6Tuzla) DOI: 10.7251/afts.2017.0917.027S COBISS.RS-ID 6817816 LEAD (Pb) CONCENTRATIONS IN SOIL OF TUZLA'S URBAN AREA Stjepić Srkalović Željka 1 , Srkalović Dado 2 , Babajić Elvir 2 , Gutić Senad 1 , Babajić Alisa 2 1 University of Tuzla, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, e. mail, zeljka.s.srkalovic@gmail.com 2 University of Tuzla, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Civil Enginnering, Department of Geology, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina ABSTRACT The paper presents the results of the geochemical-pedological researches based on the lead concentrations in soil of the Tuzla's urban area. The main goal of the research was to determine to what extent, the urban area of Tuzla was contaminated by lead and to determine the pollutant origin. The 129 soil samples were collected in situ on the of area about 100 km 2 . The testing of the lead concentration in soil samples was performed by mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with detection range of 0.02 to 10.000 ppm. The exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of lead (as defined by the „Pravilnik o utvrđivanju dozvoljenih količina štetnih i opasnih tvari u zemljištu i metode njihovog ispitivanja“), was recorded in eight soil samples (samples 108, 170, 171, 182, 187, 189, 195 and 244), 6.20% of the total analyzed. The exceeded lead concentrations range from 114.0 - 190.82 ppm and the average value is 146.72 ppm. The concentration of lead in the soil, which is within the limits of the doses, ranges from 14.14 to 60.74 ppm, and the mean value is 33.68 ppm. Locations of elevated lead concentrations are closely related to the main road, resulting that the contamination is the result of the anthropogenic activities. Key words: lead (Pb), soil, concentration, Tuzla, contamination INTRODUCTION The area of the city of Tuzla geographically belongs to the region of north-eastern Bosnia, i.e. to the subregion of the Spreča-Majevica region. Tuzla is located in the valley of the Jala river. From the northeast it's surrounded by the mountain morphostructure of Majevica, and from the south with the Spreča valley. The Tuzla's urban area is located between 18°56' and 18°79' E and 44°48 'and 44°60' N, at an altitude from 202 and 480m. The urban area of Tuzla covers about 98.37 km 2 and is located on the northern slope of the Dinarid mountain system, and generally mildly tilted towards the Gornja Spreča valley. In this area live about 120,000 inhabitants in 66 settlements [1]. The geological structure of soil considers the rock surface, which is changed under the influence of a many factors and from which the soil is evolving and developing. Soil material can provide any rock, if it's on the surface and the subject of physical, chemical and biological impacts, that lead to the decomposition of its surface layer [2].