Assessment of Soil Contamination due to Heavy Metals: A Case Study of Rakhial Industrial Area

Environmental Engineering

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of heavy metal soil pollution in one of the cradles of industry in India, the Rakhial Industrial area in the city of Ahmedabad, Twenty-five soil samples were collected from the top 5 cm of the soil layer and were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn and Cr. The data reveal a remarkable variation in heavy metal concentration among the sampled soils; the mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn and Cr were compared with the standards of different countries like Canada, Australia, Norway, Taiwan etc. for Maximum allowable limits of heavy metals in soil. Soil samples were also analyzed to determine fixed metals present in soils if any and results showed that all metals were fixed solids and do not get carried away with rain water. GIS Mapping of study area for each metal will be done to demonstrate the distribution of heavy metals concentration.

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