Heavy metals concentrations in selected soil samples of Al-Diwaniyah governorate, Southern Iraq

Abstract

Heavy metals’ origin, accumulation, and distribution in soil samples have been the focus of much attention by many researchers to monitor soil pollution. The objective of this study is to determine the levels of the heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in the soil samples collected from different areas residential, industrial and agricultural of Al-Diwaniyah governorate southern Iraq using the effective technique of atomic absorption spectroscopy AAS, so that the degree of pollution could be ascertained. The results show that the mean values of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in soil samples are 31.75, 1.804, 18.51 and 29.82 mg/l, respectively. The results show that the heavy metals concentrations were found to be higher in industrial regions than the other locations. Mean values of Pb and Cd in soils studied were generally higher than the acceptable limits, suggesting some degrees of pollution with heavy metals.