Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soil and Plants of Kirkuk City in Iraq

Chrow Ahmed Khurshid; Karrar Mahdi; Osamah Ibrahim Ahmed; Rima Osman; Mostafizur Rahman; Coen Ritsema

doi:10.3390/su14095655

Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soil and Plants of Kirkuk City in Iraq

Chrow Ahmed Khurshid^*
, Karrar Mahdi
, Osamah Ibrahim Ahmed
, Rima Osman
, Mostafizur Rahman
, Coen Ritsema

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Kirkuk city is known for its industrial activities, especially oil and cement production, as well as its road traffic. The aim of this study was to assess potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil and plants from urban areas by measuring pollution indices and estimating the effect that this pollution has on the environment. Leaf and soil samples were taken from 10 different locations in Kirkuk. These samples were pre-treated using the acid digestion method and concentrations of 12 elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results indicate a high content of aluminum and magnesium (mg/kg) in the soil samples from all study sites. For leaf samples, the results showed a moderate to low amount of magnesium and aluminum. Based on our results, the PTE concentrations were found in the following order—Mg > Al > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Se > Cd > Hg > Ti—in leaf samples from all 10 study sites. However, in the soil samples, PTE concentrations were in the following order—Mg > Al > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Se > Ti > Cd > Hg—from all study sites. Pollution indices showed a moderate level of contamination of Pb, Cd, and Ni, and a high level of contamination of As and Hg in plant and soil samples from all study sites in Kirkuk city.

Original language	English
Article number	5655
Journal	Sustainability
Volume	14
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095655
Publication status	Published - 7 May 2022

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

Environment of urban areas
Pollution indices
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs)

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10.3390/su14095655Licence: CC BY

https://edepot.wur.nl/572875Licence: CC BY

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title = "Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soil and Plants of Kirkuk City in Iraq",

abstract = "Kirkuk city is known for its industrial activities, especially oil and cement production, as well as its road traffic. The aim of this study was to assess potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil and plants from urban areas by measuring pollution indices and estimating the effect that this pollution has on the environment. Leaf and soil samples were taken from 10 different locations in Kirkuk. These samples were pre-treated using the acid digestion method and concentrations of 12 elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results indicate a high content of aluminum and magnesium (mg/kg) in the soil samples from all study sites. For leaf samples, the results showed a moderate to low amount of magnesium and aluminum. Based on our results, the PTE concentrations were found in the following order—Mg > Al > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Se > Cd > Hg > Ti—in leaf samples from all 10 study sites. However, in the soil samples, PTE concentrations were in the following order—Mg > Al > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Se > Ti > Cd > Hg—from all study sites. Pollution indices showed a moderate level of contamination of Pb, Cd, and Ni, and a high level of contamination of As and Hg in plant and soil samples from all study sites in Kirkuk city.",

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author = "Khurshid, \{Chrow Ahmed\} and Karrar Mahdi and Ahmed, \{Osamah Ibrahim\} and Rima Osman and Mostafizur Rahman and Coen Ritsema",

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T1 - Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soil and Plants of Kirkuk City in Iraq

AU - Khurshid, Chrow Ahmed

AU - Mahdi, Karrar

AU - Ahmed, Osamah Ibrahim

AU - Osman, Rima

AU - Rahman, Mostafizur

AU - Ritsema, Coen

PY - 2022/5/7

Y1 - 2022/5/7

N2 - Kirkuk city is known for its industrial activities, especially oil and cement production, as well as its road traffic. The aim of this study was to assess potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil and plants from urban areas by measuring pollution indices and estimating the effect that this pollution has on the environment. Leaf and soil samples were taken from 10 different locations in Kirkuk. These samples were pre-treated using the acid digestion method and concentrations of 12 elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results indicate a high content of aluminum and magnesium (mg/kg) in the soil samples from all study sites. For leaf samples, the results showed a moderate to low amount of magnesium and aluminum. Based on our results, the PTE concentrations were found in the following order—Mg > Al > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Se > Cd > Hg > Ti—in leaf samples from all 10 study sites. However, in the soil samples, PTE concentrations were in the following order—Mg > Al > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Se > Ti > Cd > Hg—from all study sites. Pollution indices showed a moderate level of contamination of Pb, Cd, and Ni, and a high level of contamination of As and Hg in plant and soil samples from all study sites in Kirkuk city.

AB - Kirkuk city is known for its industrial activities, especially oil and cement production, as well as its road traffic. The aim of this study was to assess potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil and plants from urban areas by measuring pollution indices and estimating the effect that this pollution has on the environment. Leaf and soil samples were taken from 10 different locations in Kirkuk. These samples were pre-treated using the acid digestion method and concentrations of 12 elements were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results indicate a high content of aluminum and magnesium (mg/kg) in the soil samples from all study sites. For leaf samples, the results showed a moderate to low amount of magnesium and aluminum. Based on our results, the PTE concentrations were found in the following order—Mg > Al > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Se > Cd > Hg > Ti—in leaf samples from all 10 study sites. However, in the soil samples, PTE concentrations were in the following order—Mg > Al > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Se > Ti > Cd > Hg—from all study sites. Pollution indices showed a moderate level of contamination of Pb, Cd, and Ni, and a high level of contamination of As and Hg in plant and soil samples from all study sites in Kirkuk city.

KW - Environment of urban areas

KW - Pollution indices

KW - Potentially toxic elements (PTEs)

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DO - 10.3390/su14095655

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85132810542

SN - 2071-1050

VL - 14

JO - Sustainability

JF - Sustainability

IS - 9

M1 - 5655

ER -

Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Urban Soil and Plants of Kirkuk City in Iraq

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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