EN
The research carried out in the Utrata valley focused on geochemical (such as heavy metals content) and textural characteristics of channel deposits (as well as deposits building up the valley floor - the floodplain terrace) and their connection with anthropogenic activity, taking place contemporarily and in the past. The paper presents preliminary research findings, which focus on the examination of an overall variability of the aforementioned features within the major morphological sections of the valley ( and, indirectly, of the catchment area). The use of the catchment area exerts a strong influence on the shaping of geomorphological features of deposits in the Utrata valley. The upper and middle part of the catchment area is industrial in nature (and comprises the western part of Warsaw and the adjoining urban and industrial zones), while the lower part is mainly agricultural (the Łowicz-Błonie Plain with fertile chernozem soils). The mode of its use, changing over time, has affected the geochemical features of deposits which can be found both in the river channel and in the valley floor. Research conducted in the adjoining catchment area (of the Pisia river, Szwarczewski 2003) demonstrated a strong interdependency between geochemical characteristics of deposits, their age and human activity in prehistoric and historic periods. The interesting results obtained in the Pisia catchment area encouraged the author to begin research in the Utrata valley. The deposits found in the-researched profiles of the Utrata valley are characterised by a high degree of anthropogenic transformation. The geochemical features of the channel deposits and those found in the valley floor prove a distinct influence of the Warsaw urban and industrial zone and its satellite towns situated further west. On the other hand, the deposits which are found in the lower sections are characterised by heavy metals content which is several to several dozen times higher. This is a result of man 's industrial activity, mainly in the industrial era, that is, in the period since the end of the 19th century (at that time intense settlement activity began in this area). In addition to that, influence of surface deposits on the geochemical features of fluvial sediments could be seen; the supply of uncontaminated small-grain sediments may lead to a relative reduction in the heavy metals content through the „dilution” of contaminants. Within the Utrata valley, areas with different geochemical trends were identified; they are characterised by an increasing or decreasing content of metals depending on the depth. This might testify to contemporary transformation processes of the geochemical characteristics of the deposits and the capacity of the river to purify its own alluvial deposits.