Soils of the Province of Pavia have been the object of a biological, physical and chemical survey in order to obtain a detailed assessment of their "quality". For this purpose, standard international methods were used to identify sampling, collection, handling and analysis points. With the use of the Land Use Cover Area from Statistical Survey (LUCAS) network, 7 Primary Points and 34 Secondary Points have been identified. On the basis of the same network, 116 sampling points (Tertiary Points) have been selected within six areas of prevalently industrial nature. A sample of soil being 0-30 cm thick was collected from each Secondary and Tertiary Point, while in the Primary Points the samples were up to approximately 1metre thick. A moss sample was collected in the surroundings of all the 157 points to enhance the information for the study. The moss analysis allowed the evaluation of the soil depositions of inorganic elements. The bio-physical-chemical analyses of all the soil samples were the following: • trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti and Zn) • macro elements (C tot, Corg, Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, N, Na, P and Si) • dioxins and furans • pH, water retention, pedological profile • bacteria The analysis carried out on moss samples were: • As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Pt, Rh and Zn. Besides what is listed, soil belonging to three areas with different management was considered: biological area, area fertilized with manure and area treated with sewage sludges. These areas were also subjected to an analysis carried out four times over a year with the use of bacteria. In two oxbows, sediment cores were collected. The analysis, carried out on 1 cm sections, aimed at evaluating the concentration of trace elements, macro elements, dioxins and furans over time.
