Vol-2 Issue-3 2016 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

2103 www.ijariie.com 273

ASSESSMENT OF SOIL CONTAMINATION

DUE TO HEAVY METALS: A CASE STUDY

OF RAKHIAL INDUSTRIAL AREA, AHMEDABAD

Author Name: Pooja Saini

L.D College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

ABSTRACT 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 o f 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 co ncentration.

Keyword: Pollution Assesment, Soil Contamination, Heavy Metals, Industrial Area , Ahmedabad.

I. INTRODUCTION

Due to the continuous industrialization in many parts of the world, pollutants are emitted into the terrestrial

environment and pose a great threat on human health .Soil Contamination can seriously affect soil’s ability to perform

some of its key functions in the ecosystem. Soil is a living resource, but once contamination exceeds a certa in threshold,

the soil may be considered ‘functionally dead’. Po llution by heavy metals and many organic contaminants is practically

irreversible. Rakhial area of Ahmedabad is hub for matterlurgical industry and thus selected for Heavy Metals assessment

in soil to investigate soil pollution. Metals investigated in this study are Copper, Nickel , Zinc, Chromium and Iron.

II. METHODOLOGY

A. Study area

Covering area of 1.36 sq. km and being hub of metallurg ical industry, Rakhial industrial area was selected to find possible

contamination in top soil of the area. Rakhial Industrial area having Latitude:23° 1'18.35"N and Longitude: 72°37'41.30"

was divided into Grids of 180 m by 180 m and 25 samples were collected from the area. Figure 1. Demonstrates the area

categorization for sample collection.

B. Sampling and Analysis

Top-soil samples of 5 cm were collected from the industrial area and obtained by compositing surroundings topsoil into a

polythene bag with aid of a plastic scooping trowel. Auger was used for collecting sample and Sample location were

recorded through GPS.

Samples were analyzed by USEPA -3050B method for assessing heavy metal concentration using FAAS. Soil samples

were digested with both Acid and Neutral pH buffer solution to determine fixed metals and washing away with rain water.

Vol-2 Issue-3 2016 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

2103 www.ijariie.com 274

Figure.1- Study Area Categorization

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

On analyzing soils for Cu,Ni,Cr and Zn, results obtained for 25 location are compared with standards of different

countries for Maximum allowable concentration of Heavy metals in So il. Standards compared here includes Canadian,

Australia, Norway, Taiwan and Netherland.

A. Data Interpretation

TABLE I:

Sr.

No

Metal Conc. Maximum Minimum Mean Median Std. Deviation

1. Copper(Cu) 11995 10.6 664.7784 359.86 2336.157

2. Nickel(Ni) 590 17.73 101.200385 132.23 123.634771

3. Zinc(Zn) 4520 8.25 586.6404 35 927.2629

4. Chromium(Cr) 1695 12.75 199.1746 63.97 340.2996

Vol-2 Issue-3 2016 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

2103 www.ijariie.com 275

B. Graphical Representation of Results:

94.14

37.72 28.01

138.55

43.55

382.55

47.208

276.12

129.6

251.2

359.86

25.4 46.72

79.23

283.86

10.6 31.65

397.2

43.2

439

23.3

160.47

39.3

100 91

91

250

190

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Copper Copper

WHO,Australia andNorway StdsCanadian Stds

Taiwan

92.9

34.07 44.09

57.76

125

48.69 44.7

66.28

38.46 28.8

132.23

20.33

67.06

37.51

149.13

17.73 23.67

151.8

53.5

123.8 130.9

93.04

38.8

60

210

50

89

0

50

100

150

200

250

Nickel

Australia & Norway

Netherland

WHO

Canadian

Nickel

Vol-2 Issue-3 2016 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

2103 www.ijariie.com 276

520

349

23 8.25

214.3

1504

78

353

114.4

1142

352.4

35

142.6

297

1529

245

122.9 97.4

330

165.6

1224 1175

113

323

200 300

2000

360

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500Zinc Zinc

Australia and Norway

WHO

Taiwan

Canadian Stds

154.5

117.6

42.9 33.3

123.4

38.57

106.6

222

72.78

32.72 32.9

63.97

27.45

121.9 87.03

481.1

12.75 38.47

519.4

57.1

500

181

328

29.9

100 87

50

400 380

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Chromium

Chromium

WHO

Canadian

Australia & Norway

Taiwan

Netherland

Vol-2 Issue-3 2016 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

2103 www.ijariie.com 277

Following results are highest and excluded from graph so it doesn’t suppress the values in range

For Sample-1, Cu- 1756 mg/kg & Ni- 590mg/kg For Sample 6, Cu- 11995 mg/kg,

For Sample 9 Zn- 4520 & Cr-1695 mg/kg For Sample 12- Ni- 375 mg/kg

C. Conclusion

On comparing different standards with the results of Cu, Ni, Zn and Cr concentrations;

Analysis done with Neutral pH buffer solution did not detect any metal extraction when measured on FASS.

III. CONCLUSION

As mentioned in above table, half of the results obtained are above prescribed limits, thus it can be interpreted that Soil o f

Rakhial industrial area is contaminated with high concentrations of heavy metals

No metals were extracted with buffer solution thus it can be concluded that all p resent metals are fixed metals and do not

get washed away with rain water.

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank my family for always motivating me, my guide Minerva j pandya for her continous guidance, my

dears friends harit and sumit for their support in technical analysis and at last students of CEPT for GIS lessons.

REFERENCES

References used in analysing, investigating and comparing are as following: <10 point>

[1] Soil pollution - Types, effects, sources and control of soil pollution - http://mjcetenvsci.blogspot.in/2013/11/soil-pollution-types-

effects-sources.html

[2] Soil Pollution - http://bosepo.ba/categories/environment/

[3] Causes and Types of Soil Pollution - http://nsdl.niscair.res.in/jspui/bitstream/123456789/990/1/Soil_Pollution.pdf

[4] Chemicals of Public Health Concern - http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/chemicals_phc/en/

[5] Soil Sample Analysis - http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/guidetosoil.pdf

[6] Statistic Treatment of Data/Results – http://www.statsref.com/HTML/index.html?introduction.html

[7] What is GIS https://www.esri.com/library/bestpractices/essays-on-geography-gis.pdf

[8] Monitoring and Control Standards of Heavy Metals of Soils in Taiwan -

http://sgw.epa.gov.tw/ReSAG/Upload_Data/File/Information8839253Nov30_01Regulatory%20Standards%20of%20Heavy%20M

etal%20Pollutants%20in%20Soil_20111116.pdf

[9] Soil quality Guidelines, Canadian Council of Ministers of The Environment-

http://www.ccme.ca/en/resources/canadian_environmental_quality_guidelines/

[10] Classification and Management of Contaminated Soil for Disposal, Environment Protection Authority. EPA TASMANIA-

http://epa.tas.gov.au/documents/ib105_classification_and_management_of_contaminated_soil_2012.pdf

[11] Guide for Soil pollution assessments- http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/old/klif/publikasjoner/2550/ta2550.pdf

[12] Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metal Levels in Soil,Vegetables and Urban Grey Waste Water Used for Irrigation in Yola and

Kano-

https://www.researchgate.net/file.PostFileLoader.html?id=569cbe0e5cd9e35c558b45a2&assetKey=AS%3A319192471531521%4

01453112823155

Sr. No Heavy Metal

Parameter

Total no of Samples exceeding Lowest Standards

1 Copper Total 13 samples are found above prescribed standard of Copper Concentration.

2 Nickel Total 15 samples are found above prescribed standard of Nickel Concentration.

3 Zinc Total 15 samples are found above prescribed standard of Zinc Concentration.

4 Chromium Total 16 Samples are found above prescribed standard of Chromium concentration.

Vol-2 Issue-3 2016 IJARIIE-ISSN(O)-2395-4396

2103 www.ijariie.com 278

[13] Assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface soils of urban parks in Beijing, China-

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653505000846

[14] Assessment of Soil Contamination in Patancheru Industrial Area, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India-

http://maxwellsci.com/print/rjees/v3-214-220.pdf

[15] Metal contamination in urban, suburban, and country park soils of Hong Kong: A study based on GIS and multivariate statistics -

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969705002263