Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ASSESSING SOIL HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION OF URBAN AGRICULTURAL LAND IRRIGATED WITH RAW SEWAGE OF MESHGINSHAHR USING INDICATORS OF POLLUTION FACTOR, GROUND ACCUMULATION AND TOTAL POLLUTION FACTOR

Lobat Taghavi and Mahmood Noori Mashiran

Abstract

Soil is an important and valuable source of nature and the effects of pollution into the environment is irreversible. Urban sewage is containing heavy metals that may accumulate in the soil, leaves and fruit of the trees. Accumulation of heavy metals in soils irrigated with wastewater not only cause soil contamination But also will affect on safety and quality of humans food. The purpose of this study was to investigate soil contamination by heavy metals chromium, manganese, cadmium, lead and mercury in soils irrigated with sewage directly in Meshginshahr city of Ardabil province is using various indicators of pollution. To perform study 4 separate soil samples were taken from the area in spring and summer and heavy metal concentrations were measured using a spectrophotometer. The results showed that the index for all metals accumulation in two seasons, were mostly <0, so concentrations in the soil were linked to their natural origin. Pollution factor index values showed that most samples were in middle-class pollution or didn’t have pollution. The results showed that pollution measures used in this study could determine soil contamination with heavy metals.