Heavy Metals (Mg, Mn, Ni and Sn) Contamination in Soil Samples of Ahvaz II Industrial Estate of Iran in 2013

Background & Aims of the Study: Due to the rapid industrial development in Khuzestanprovince of Iran during recent years, this study was performed to analyze the variation ofmetals concentrations (Mg, Mn, Ni, and Sn) in soil samples of Ahvaz II Industrial estateduring the spring season of 2013.Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 27 topsoil samples were collected fromnine stations. The intensity of the soil contamination was evaluated, using a contaminationfactor (Cf) and geo-accumulation index (I-geo).Results: The mean soil concentrations (in mg kg-1 (dry weight)) were in ranged within870-1144 (Mg), 188-300 (Mn), 93-199 (Ni) and 9-15 (Sn). The data indicated that the I-geovalue for all metals falls in class ‘1’. Also the Cf value for Mg and Mn falls in class ‘0’, theCf value for Sn falls in class ‘1’ and the Cf value for Ni falls in the classes of ‘1’ and ‘2’.The result of the Pearson correlation showed that there were significant positiveassociations between all metals.Conclusions: According to the results which were achieved by a cluster analysis, therewere significant positive associations among all metals based on Pearson correlationcoefficient, especially between Ni and Sn; also both of them with Mn. Because the Nioriginates from oil sources it can be resulted that Mn and Sn originate from oil sources, too.Therefore, industrial activities and exploitation of oil reservoirs are the main cause ofpollution in that area. Also, it can be concluded that, with increasing the distance from thesource of pollution, the accumulation of contaminants in the soil samples decreased.

Keywords:

Soil , Geo-accumulationindex , ContaminationFactor , Heavy Metal , Industrial Estate , Ahvaz , Iran