Geographic Information System and Multivariate Analysis Approach for Mapping Soil Contamination and Environmental Risk Assessment in Arid Regions
Geographic Information System and Multivariate Analysis Approach for Mapping Soil Contamination and Environmental Risk Assessment in Arid Regions
Heavy metal contamination in soil is a global issue threatening human health and
ecosystems. Accurate spatial maps of heavy metals (HMs) are vital to mitigating the adverse
effects on the ecosystem. This study utilizes GIS and multivariate analysis to evaluate
HMs in agricultural soils from Al Ghat Governorate, Saudi Arabia, analyzing Al, As, Co,
Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn using ICP-AES in 35 soil samples. Methods included
contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), risk index (RI), geoaccumulation index
(Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), soil quality guidelines (SQGs), and multivariate analysis.
The soils, characterized by sandy texture, low organic matter, and alkalinity due to arid
conditions and high calcium carbonate, had the following HM concentrations (mg/kg)
in descending order: Fe (11,480) > Al (7786) > Mn (278) > Zn (72.37) > Ni (28.66) > V
(21.80) > Cr (19.89) > Co (19.00) > Cu (12.46) > Pb (5.46) > As (2.69). EF, CF, and Igeo
suggest natural sources for most HMs, predominantly from the sedimentary sequence,
with localized Zn, Pb, Co, Mn, and Cu enrichment linked to mixed natural and agricultural
influences. PLI and RI indicated acceptable contamination levels, posing no ecological
risk. All samples fell below SQG thresholds for As, Cu, Pb, and Cr, confirming minimal
ecological threat. Statistical analysis highlighted sedimentary cover as the primary HM
source, with agricultural activities contributing to Co, Cu, Ni, and Pb levels.
This study comprehensively evaluates heavy metal (HM) contamination and associated
health risks in 31 groundwater samples from Wadi Al-Hamd, northwest Saudi Arabia. Cd,
Pb, Zn, As, Cr, Cu,…
The present study is among the first to
assess the health and environmental risks of heavy metals
(HMs) in the soil of palm farms in the Al-Jilah area,
west of Riyadh. This was achieved…
Heavy metal contamination in soil is a global issue threatening human health and
ecosystems. Accurate spatial maps of heavy metals (HMs) are vital to mitigating the adverse
effects on the…