Geochemical Assessment of soil in Al-Nahrawan area, East Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

This study aims to assessment the quality of soil in Nahrawan area. Seventeen soil samples were gathered from various locations on depths 20 cm from Nahrawan area in October 2024, emphasizing the nature of each area (commercial, agricultural, industrial, and roadside sites). All soil samples were subjected to geochemical analysis to determine the concentration of some major oxides and trace elements. the lab data were used to create the spatial analysis map. It was found that major oxides as compared to national and international study the mean concentrations of CaO, MgO, Fe₂O₃, and P₂O₅ are greater than international whereas, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, SO₃, K₂O, Na₂O, TiO₂, and MnO are lower than international. In addition, CaO, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, K2O, TiO₂, P₂O₅, and MnO concentration are greater than the average of national background, while SiO₂, MgO, SO₃, and Na₂O are lower than national background. Trace elements found the mean of concentration Pb, Cd, and Zn within acceptable limit of national and international study, but the mean of Ni and Cu greater than international studies, while within acceptable limit of national. Mean of Cr, Fe, and V greater than of national and international studies. This increase in some trace elements because the process of burning fuel is carried out in a large quantity in the Nahrawan region and because of the fall of residues and smoke of factories on the soil and the presence of clay minerals in it (especially montmorillonite) and organic materials. According to the results of soil quality assessments Industrial areas' soil has a considerable of trace element contamination, the Index of geo-accumulation, showed that pollution is due to human activities. Result of Index of geo-accumulation, Enrichment Factor, and Contamination factor were indicated polluted from low to medium except Ni and Cr are greatly polluted, while Potential Ecological Risk Index showed low in all samples.