Dataset on heavy metal content in background soils of the three gully catchments at Western Siberia.

The criteria used include heavy metal (HM) levels in background soils of different countries and territories (Australia, China, Finland, North America, Northern Europe, and Western Siberia) and their threshold concentration values for soils of residential and/or agricultural areas in soil quality standards of Canada (soil quality guidelines), Germany (Trigger Values), the Netherlands (Serious Risk Concentrations), Russia (Maximum Permissible Concentrations), and the USA (Regional Screening Levels). The Retisols, Phaeozems and Chernozems of Western Siberia are characterized by the following range of mean concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil (in mg kg): Pb 5-35, Cu 5-100, V 5-180, Cr 5-212, Ni 7-100, Zn 10-135, Mn 50-1800, and Ba 373-1360.