History of the cultural layer in Moscow and accumulation of anthropogenic substances in it

Urban soils in the central part of Moscow consist of a thick layer of municipal waste (the cultural layer). Its thickness varies from 2 to 5 m and can reach 20 m in depressions. It has been affected by pedogenic processes and also contains archaeological artefacts. Thus, it is simultaneously a soil, a sediment and a cultural layer. It is very stony, has a strongly alkaline reaction and is enriched in organic matter (30-fold increase in comparison with surface soils of Moscow suburbs), carbonates, phosphorus compounds (20–200-fold increase) and various microelements (Pb, Cu, Zn, As, 100–1000-fold increase).