Risk assessment of heavy metal soil pollution through principal components analysis and false color composition in Hamadan Province, Iran

Abstract

In the process of decision making to combat heavy metals pollution, it is essential to have accurate quantitative information about heavy metals and their pollution hot-spots. The main purpose of this study was to determine spatial distribution of several elements (As, Sb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe and V) on surface soils of Hamadan Province (Iran). It also sought to create a holistic view to determine the position, level, and anomaly of classified elements through principal components analysis (PCA), false color composition (FCC), inverse overlay method, and weighted linear combination. Finally, it tried to identify possible sources of pollution in the hotspots. Interpolation of heavy metal concentrations was performed using geostatistical methods and correlation analysis for locations. The most appropriate interpolation method was selected based on mean absolute error (MAE) and mean bias error (MBE) indices.