Heavy Metals Concentrations in Surface Soils of the Haweja Area South Western of Kirkuk, IRAQ

Abstract

Twenty one samples of surface soils were collected in Haweja area of Kirkuk, Iraq. From the samples analysis the following heavy metal concentration (range) were obtained (in ppm): Mn(401-722), Cu(23-42), Zn(32-62), Co(30-43), V(28-60), Ni(110-189), Cr(270-360), Zr(110-212) and Fe (in wt %)(0.85-2.27). The results indicate that, in comparison with Kirkuk soils, surface soils in Haweja area have elevated metal concentration as a whole, except those of Cobalt and Vanadium. R-mode factor analysis reveals three elements associations and two singular elements (Co, Zr), accounting for 86.92% of the total data variance. The three associations are: Zn-Cu; Mn-Fe and V-Cr. The geoaccumulation indices show that surface soils in Haweja area are unpolluted to slightly polluted.