Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Surface Soils across Industrial, Urban, Rural, and Agricultural Areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55627/agrivet.004.01.01114Keywords:
Heavy Metals, Industrial, Urban, Rural, Agriculture, NowsheraAbstract
This study investigates heavy metal contamination in surface soils across industrial, urban, rural, and agricultural land use types in Nowshera District, Pakistan. The research addresses the critical issue of soil contamination resulting from anthropogenic activities such as industrial emissions, urban expansion, and agricultural intensification. A total of 76 soil samples were collected from 34 sites representing diverse land use types and analyzed for heavy metals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Physicochemical properties, including pH, organic matter content, and salinity, were also measured to understand their influence on heavy metal distribution. Results indicate significant variations in heavy metal concentrations across land use types, with industrial soils showing the highest contamination levels. For instance, the mean Pb concentration in industrial soils (175.6 mg/kg) was nearly four times higher than in rural soils (46.3 mg/kg). Similarly, Zn levels were significantly elevated in industrial areas, averaging 430.6 mg/kg compared to 122.7 mg/kg in rural soils. Urban soils exhibited moderate contamination, driven by vehicular emissions and construction activities, while agricultural soils showed lower overall contamination but localized hotspots due to agrochemical use. Pollution indices such as the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) confirmed anthropogenic contributions to heavy metal accumulation. Spatial analysis using GIS identified contamination hotspots, particularly in industrial and urban areas, highlighting the need for targeted remediation strategies. Multivariate statistical analyses, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA), revealed distinct groupings of metals based on anthropogenic and lithogenic sources. These findings underscore the critical influence of land use practices on soil contamination dynamics. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of heavy metal contamination in Nowshera’s soils, offering valuable insights for sustainable land management and pollution mitigation strategies. The research emphasizes the importance of integrating scientific assessments with policy interventions to address the ecological and health risks posed by heavy metal pollution.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Zahid Hassan Tarar, Nadia Gull, Muhammad Shoaib Aslam, Talha Murad, Arif Hussain, Muhammad Saleem, Saima Nazar, Sajid Ali, Irfan Ahmad Saleem, Saiqah Toor, Nadeem Hussain, Saeed Ur Rehman, Sher Afzal, Waqar Illahi
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