Metallic Pollution Level in Soils of Mymensingh Town, Bangladesh: An Impact of Urbanization and Industrialization

H.M Zakir; Md. Sohrab Hossain

doi:10.37591/joise.v3i3.3526

Abstract

Untreated urban and industrial wastes disposal in Mymensingh town are the major problem and responsible for soil and water pollution. Total 24 soil samples were collected from different locations of Mymensingh town to assess metallic pollution level as well as to study some other physicochemical properties of soils. The mean total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Fe in soil samples were 68.69, 193.06, 62.47, trace and 18481.82 µg g-1, respectively. The present study revealed that the average Cu, Zn and Pb contents in soils were higher compared with several other industrial areas in home and abroad as well as geochemical background values of continental crust. Iron content in soils showed highly significant positive relationship with Zn and Pb, which indicate that these metals were interrelated with each other and may be originated from the same source to the study area. The calculated Igeo for Pb, Zn and Cu exhibited positive values and Igeo class: 1–3, indicating moderately to strongly polluted soil quality. Similarly, considering EFc, 100, 55 and 14% locations had EFc values > 5.0 for Pb, Zn and Cu, respectively, which indicates anthropogenic enrichment of these metals to the area.