Name of the file: HeavyMetals_Final.xlsx
Release date: 15/01/2025
Sheet “2009” : Includes Samples collected in 2009 and 2012 (only for Bulgaria & Romania).
NUTS_0 = NUTS level 0 (country)
NUTS_1 = NUTS level 1 (region)
NUTS_2 = NUTS level 2 (province)
NUTS shapefile 2021 was used to get the NUTS codes: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco/geodata/statistical-units/territorial-units-statistics

Below is the chemical property (measured as in mg per Kg)*:
As_mg_kg  = Arsenic concentration
Cd_mg_kg  = Cadmium concentration
Co_mg_kg = Cobalt concentration
Cr_mg_kg = Chrome concentration
Cu_mg_kg = Copper concentration
Fe_mg_kg = Iron concentration
Mg_mg_Kg = Magnesium concentration
Mn_mg_kg = Manganese concentration
Pb_mg_kg = Lead concentration
Hg_mg_kg = Mercury concentration
Sb_mg_kg = Antimony concentration
V_mg_kg = Vanadium concentration
Zn_mg_kg = Zinc concentration
Ni_mg_kg = Nickel concentration

LC0_Desc_2009 = Land Cover description year 2009 (according to LUCAS)
LC0_Desc_2012 = Land Cover description year 2012 (according to LUCAS)

USDA texture = soil texture according to US Department of Agriculture (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/The-Soil-Survey-Manual.pdf) using ad hoc R library (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/soiltexture/index.html)
pH_Class = pH class (interval= 0.5)
OC_Class = Organic Carbon expressed in g/Kg (interval = 50)
Sampling Depth: For 2009/2012, the sampling depth is always 0-20cm.

Sheet ”2018” : Includes data collected in 2018.

As_mg_kg  = Arsenic concentration
Cd_mg_kg  = Cadmium concentration
Co_mg_kg = Cobalt concentration
Cr_mg_kg = Chrome concentration
Cu_mg_kg = Copper concentration
Hg_mg_kg = Mercury concentration
Ni_mg_kg = Nickel concentration
Pb_mg_kg = Lead concentration
Sb_mg_kg = Antimony concentration
V_mg_kg = Vanadium concentration
Zn_mg_kg = Zinc concentration
Depth = Depth of the soil sample taken 
NUTS_0 = NUTS level 0 (country)
NUTS_1 = NUTS level 1 (region)
NUTS_2 = NUTS level 2 (province)
NUTS shapefile 2021 was used to get the NUTS codes: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/gisco/geodata/statistical-units/territorial-units-statistics
LC0_Desc = Land Cover description (according to LUCAS)
USDA texture = soil texture according to US Department of Agriculture (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/The-Soil-Survey-Manual.pdf) using ad hoc R library (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/soiltexture/index.html)
pH_Class = pH class (interval= 0.5)
OC_Class = Organic Carbon expressed in g/Kg (interval = 50)

*As a note, LOD values means Lower than Limit of Detection Level. Below the LOD values used in the laboratory analysis per element.
Element	LOD as mg per Kg	
As: Arsenic	2.84	
Cd: Cadmium	0.07	
Co  Cobalt	0.15	
Cr: Cromium	0.32	
Cu: Copper    	0.26	
Fe: Iron    	0.66	
Mg: Magnesium    	3.58	
Mn: Manganese    	0.02	
Ni: Nickel    	0.27	
Pb: lead    	1.16	
Sb: Antimony    	0.81	
V:  Vanadium	0.66	
Zn: Zinc    	2.12	
Hg: Mercury	0.000054	

NA means that the value is not available.