Changes in properties and contamination with heavy metals in soils at outdoor shooting ranges

Abstract

The aim of the reasearch was to investigate the physical properties and contamination of heavy metals of two outdoor shooting ranges. Soil samples were taken from two open 50-meter outdoor shooting ranges located in Alytus and Kaunas. Both ranges are open, with no roofing and with two shooting lines at different distances (25 and 50 meters). These structurally similar shooting ranges differ in their activity. The results showed that soil was more contaminated with lead and copper in more active shooting range (Alytus): the maximum concentration of lead was 8272 mg/kg, copper – 10.11 mg/kg. In less active shooting range (Kaunas) the maximum concentration of lead was 6758 mg/kg, copper – 7.79 mg/kg. Heavy metal concentrations in both shooting ranges tended to increase with the distance from the start of the fire line (p<0.05). The acidity of shooting ranges soils was typical to alkaline reaction (pH 6.2 – 7.4). Both shooting ranges soil density varied between 1.03 to 1.54 g/cm3. The highest density of the shooting ranges was at 50 meters distance from the fire line (Alytus – 1.23 g/cm3, Kaunas – 1.54 g/cm3). It was observed that the organic matter content and porosity of the soil significantly decreased with increasing distance from the start of the firing line (p<0.05). Density of the soil significantly increased with increasing distance from the start of the firing line (p<0.05).