The work studies the degree of heavy metal pollution in water, sediment and soil in the industrial platform area from Ramnicu
Valcea, Romania. The water and sediment samples were collected from three locations of the Olt River, in two distinct periods,
February and June 2010. Concentrations of nickel, copper and cadmium were analyzed. The soil samples were collected from
eight points and the same elements were analyzed, in the above mentioned interval of time.
The results of water and sediment analyzes were compared with legally prescriptions from the norms regarding surface water
quality classification in order to determine the ecological status of water bodies. The soil samples were compared with reference
values for the trace of the chemical elements in the soil. In the upstream section of the platform, heavy metals concentrations in
sediments exceed limits imposed by national regulations. In downstream sections concentration of nickel, copper and cadmium
are generally within the imposed limits. Concentrations of heavy metals in water were lower than National and European
legislation limits. The degree of the heavy metals pollution changes, depend on wastewaters industrial flow of the chemical
platform. In case of soil samples, the nickel, copper and cadmium concentrations don’t exceed the limits values of the
environmental legislation.