Kamel Khalil * (1), Maher Dais (2) and Basel Fares (1)
(1). Department of Environmental Prevention, Higher Institute for Environmental Research, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
(2). The General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Research, Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Dr. kamel Khalil, Email: d.kamelkhalil@tishreen.edu.sy).
Received: 19/09/2022 Accepted: 16/10/2022
Abstract:
This study aimed to assess the levels of soil pollution using some individual pollution index (Enrichment Factor, Geoaccumulation index, Pollution index) and some integrated pollution index (Average pollution index and Nemerow pollution index) in surface soils (0-20 cm) for nine sites (S1- S9) in Banyas during the year 2021. Concentrations of metal elements were estimated: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). The results showed that the order of elemental concentrations (general average) in ppm was as follows: [Fe (3479.66) > Mn (577.06) > Zn (69.32) > Pb (30.69) > Ni (28.20) > Cu (25.49) > Cd (0.55)]. The results showed that the order of Enrichment Factor values (general average) were as follows: [Cd (4.35) > Pb (2.53) > Zn (1.1) > Fe (1) > Mn (0.62) > Cu (0.48) > Ni (0.39)], we conclude that the city soil has moderate enrichment for the elements cadmium and lead. The results showed that the order of the Geoaccumulation index values (general average) were as follows: [Cd (1.24) > Pb (0.53) > Zn (-0.61) > Mn (-1.45) > Cu (-1.84) > Ni (-2.17). )> Fe (-464)]. We conclude that the city soil is classified as moderately polluted for cadmium and not polluted to moderately polluted for lead. The results showed that the order of the Pollution index values (general average) were as follows: [Cd (3.68) > Pb (2.19) > Zn (0.99) > Fe (0.93) > Mn (0.56) > Cu (0.42) > Ni (0.34)]. The results indicated that the city soil is classified as highly polluted for cadmium and moderately polluted for lead, while the rest of the elements were all within the classification (non-polluted). The results indicated that the soil in all sites was classified as (medium pollution) according to the Average pollution index and the Nemerow pollution index (general average).
Key Words: Heavy metals concentration- Soil pollution index- Banyas city (Syria).
Full paper in Arabic: pdf