Investigation of Heavy Metal Pollution on Agricultural Lands in the South of Marmara Region

43810

This study explores the amount of heavy metals in the agricultural lands around the south of Marmara Region and makes an assesment on the reasons for high level of heavy metal concentration in soil. In this sense, this study concentrates on the environmental impact of storage and transportation of phosphogypsum, which is revealed as a by-product of phosphoric acid production. Moreover, the use of phosphogypsum as a fertilizer has also taken into consideration. In order to find out the range of pollution, thirty different samples of soil were taken in sequences of varying up to 15 kms. The direction of the sequences were determined according to the wind and the intervals of the the sequences were widening from the initial to the ultimate points. The concentrations of certain elements (Fe, Mn, Ca, Cr, Na, Mg, Al, P, K, V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb) in soil samples were analysed with ICP-MS. The soil samples were divided into nine different groups according to the wind direction and proximity. An area that covers four samples, which fell outside the direction of the wind, were selected as a reference. Among the 19 elements that cause to pollution, some metals (Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn) with high concentration (395, 152, 181, 215, 263 mg/kg, respectively) were compared to reference area for the purpose of clarifying the differences.

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Phosphogypsum , Heavy Metal , Soil Pollution

International journal of advances in engineering and pure sciences

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International journal of advances in engineering and pure sciences