Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties and Heavy Metals Content For Medical Health Risk Assessment in Soils from Selected Solid Waste Dumpsite in Al-Nasiriyah City, Iraq

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Ihsan Abdullah Kumail

Abstract

Discharging of untreated municipal solid wastes (MSW) to land is very common in developing countries. One of the serious problems is the enrichment of heavy metals in the nearest environment and various hazardous effects of toxic compounds contained in MSW have been reported on the humans. An assessment was conducted to evaluate the effect of discharged solid wastes on soil quality in two different seasons (summer and winter) within dumpsite of Al- Nasiriyah city, Iraq. In the study, different soil physicochemical parameters such as electrical conductivity, pH, and organic matter content including heavy metal content were considered. Sampling locations were selected by transect sampling method and soil samples were taken at distance of 10m, 30m and 60m from the periphery of the disposal sites at a depth of 0-20cm. The soils collected at different point in the Al-Nasiriyah dumpsite are silty loam in texture, low in organic matter with a high salinity content. There was seasonal variation in the level of chemical properties measured in the soil due to the effect of temperature increase on the soil capillarity force. The average soil pH recorded in the two seasons were slightly above neutral 7.26 and 7.18, respectively. The average EC recorded in the two seasons showed elevated salt level (4.80 and 5.4). Result of the soil heavy metal analysis indicates that vertical distribution of Pb, Cr, Cu and Cd increased in Al-Nasiriyah dumpsite which is a clear indication of the level of pollution in the area. The study demonstrated contamination of the soil by heavy metals that will cause environmental and human risk through the food chain and possibly leaching into groundwater sources.

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