Heavy metals emitted from power plant in Al-Khairat city effect on the surrounding soil

Abstract

Recently the impact of emission gases from the power plant has attracted a great interest on the surrounding soil. Combustion of fossil fuel to generate electricity contributed to air pollution. AL-khaurat power plant in Karbala city is one of the most important sources for generation electric energy in Iraq. The environmental protection system used in this station is mechanical system and it found to be inactive. This study was preformed to determine the heavy metal contamination and percentage of dissolved salts of soil which is surrounding to the power plant. Different samples of soil and various plants' leaves are selected at distances (100,200,300,400) meters from the power plant in direction of moving air. Soil samples were analyzed in Alsebtayn Laboratory. Analysis of samples (plants' leaves) investigated in Laboratory of Al-Nahrain university by using Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results confirmed that the dissolved salts in all samples(1,2,3,4) higher than that standard values. Sample 3 at distance 300 meters showed the high value 32 and began to decrease at sample 4. Analysis of plants' leaves illustrated that the samples contain heavy metals such as mercury(Hg), lead (pb) and cadmium (cd). The effects of emitted gases on surrounding area cause the soil unsuitable for agriculture