Heavy metals concentration in surface soils of some community parks of the Erbil City

Abstract EN

The present research was conducted to study concentration and distribution of (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni and As) in 27 surface soils collected from 9 community parks in the city of Erbil.

The soil samples were collected from different distances of the road curbs.

Heavy metal concentrations were determined after digesting the samples with aqua regia solution.

Their concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Soil pH and conductivity were also measured.

Lead concentrations was the highest in the soils which ranged from 44.12 to 60.02 μg / g with the mean value of 52.65 μg / g followed by Nickel, Arsenic, Copper and Zinc with the mean value of 14.45, 9.72, 4.57 and 0.53 μg/g respectively.

Cadmium content was the lowest and varied from 0.03 to 0.56 μg / g with the mean value of 0.34 μg / g.

All heavy metals showed decrease in the soils with increasing distance from the road.

Soils within the 5 meter zone had the highest mean concentration of all metals whereas the 15 meter zone had the lowest mean concentration.