Environmental Assessment of Trace Elements Concentration and Distribution in Surface Soils at North Baiji City, Iraq

Abstract

To assess the environmental pollution of the soil at north Baiji City, the concentration of As, Se, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, Sb, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, U, Sr, Ba, Ag, Rb, Li, Sn, Bi, Tl and Zn were determined in 18 sites. Results showed that the range concentrations of metal in mg/kg were Mo (0.84-2.15), Cu (17.62-78.77), Pb (9.89-19.19), Zn (39.5-374.7), Ag (0.064-0.14), Ni (90.7-210), Co (12.8-26.6), Mn (407-863), As (4-7.1), Cd (0.18-0.37), Sb (0.38-0.77), Bi (0.06-0.17), V (74-281), Cr (128-287), Li (15.3-24.4), Tl (0.14-0.24), Sn (0.6-1.7), Rb (28-51.2), U (1.2-1.5), Se (0.3-0.6), Ba (173-310), Sr (218-1270). Based on enrichment factor (EF) of trace elements, Mo, Cu, Pb, Mn, Bi, U, V, Li, Sn, Rb, Ba and Tl were showed deficiency to minimal enrichment, while Zn, Ag, Co, Cd, Sb, Sr and Cr were showed moderate enrichment, whereas As, Ni, and Se were showed significant enrichment. According to contamination factor (CF), Mo, Cu, Mn, Bi, U, V, Sn, Rb, Ba and Tl were showed low contamination, while Pb, Zn, Ag, Co, Cd, Sb, Cr, Li and Sr were showed moderate contamination, whereas As was responsible for considerable contamination, whereas Ni and Se were showed very high contamination. Based on PLI, all sampling sites are considered to be polluted except sites 3 and 10.