Determine the pollution indicators of the soil nearby Al-Najaf refinery soils , middle of Iraq

Abstract

Al- Najaf thermal fuel refinery station produces many pollutants resulting from fuel combustion as fumes, gases, and unwanted odors, all of which lead to heavy metals pollution in the soil. The purpose of this research is to study the pollution indicators in the soil surrounding the refinery, by collecting 5 soil samples from different sites to conduct many analyses and determine the chemical pollution level. Five heavy metals (Nickel, Zinc, Cobalt, Chromium, and Lead) were collected to analyse, The results found that the percentage of the metal (cobalt) in the site No.3 was the highest percentage through analyzes due to its presence near the oil flame in addition to the direction of the wind, and through testing it by applying factors Chemical pollution, geo accumulation index (I-geo), pollution load index (PLI) and contamination factor (CF). In the studied sites, the I-geo for Co, Cr, and Pb showed relative values of class 1, which indicated the sites were only slightly polluted, while the I-geo for Zn showed relative values of class 2, which indicated moderate pollution, and the I-geo for Ni showed relative values of class 6, which indicated extremely polluted sites. While the contamination factor for Zn was classed as class 2, which indicates moderate contamination, the contamination factors for Co, Cr, Pb, and Ni were all rated as class 1, which indicates low contamination. PLI levels in all of the investigated sites that are categorized as class 1 indicate no pollution(perfection) .The gases released by the predominant wind direction had an impact on the distribution pattern of metal percentages.