런던 중심부에 위치한 Hampstead Heath(HM), Hyde Park(HY)와 런던 외과의 Hainault Country Park (HA)의 토양에서 중금속(Pb, Zn, Cd)과 미생물의 생체량과 활성과의 관계를 조사하였다. 중금속 농도는 도로의 교통량에 비례하여 HM과 HY에서 높았고 HA에서 낮게 나타났으며, 특히 도로에서 0.5m 떨어진 0∼5㎝ 깊이의 토양층에서 높았다. 미생물의 생체량과 활성의 지수로서 사용된 DHA(dehydrogenase activity), ATP와 Ergosterol 함량은 HA에서 높았고 일반적으로 토표층에 가까울수록 높게 나타났다. 단일 회귀분석을 한 결과 미생물의 생체량과 활성은 중금속 농도보다는 수분함량, 수분보유능(WHC), 총 유기탄소, 총 질소, 유기물 함량과 유의적인 상관관계가 있었다. 높은 질소와 탄소량은 자동차의 배기분출물에서 나온 중금속의 높은 유입량과 관계가 있으며, HM과 HY의 미생물 개체군은 탄소와 질소의 유입에 반응하여 그 생체량과 활성이 증가하였으나, HA개체군은 그렇지 못하였다. 이것은 HM과 HY개체군의 중금속에 대한 적응을 보여주고 있음을 나타낸다.

The relationship between Pb, Zn, Cd and the microbial biomass and activity were investigated in three public park soils of central and outer London. Variability with distance from the roadside and profile were studied. The heavy metal concentrations were the highest in Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park with high traffic density and the lowest in Hainault. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were found adjacent to the roadside in the upper parts of the soil profile. Dehydrogenase activity, adenosine tri-phosphate and ergosterol contents used as indices of microbial biomass and activity were generally higher in Hainault, and also higher in the upper parts of the soil profile. Simple regression analysis indicated that the microbial biomass and activity were affected significantly by moisture content, water holding capacity, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and organic matter rather than heavy metal concentration. Highest inputs of nitrogen and carbon were associated with high inputs of heavy metals, all three being derived from vehicle emissions adjacent to the road. The Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath microbial populations were able to respond to the C and N input positively by increase in biomass and activity, whereas the Hainault populations could not. This result suggests adaptation in the former to heavy metals, but not in the latter.