The Study of Peri-Urban Soil Contamination in the Kenitra Region, Morocco – Characterization and Assessment Using a Statistical Approach

Abstract

The peri-urban solid waste in the Kenitra region is experiencing a significant change in terms of quantity and quality. High concentrations of both inorganic and organic materials are present in these wastes, posing a significant threat of pollution. This research sought to analyze the extent of soil contamination by heavy metals, providing valuable insights to prompt proactive interventions and propose alternative solutions for sustainable waste management. The objective of this work was to study peri-urban soil contamination in the Kenitra region-Morocco. For that purpose, several soil contamination indicators were analyzed, namely: nitrogenous, fertilizer and heavy metals concentration, soil pH, etc. The analyzed soil samples were taken from water from the different points at the levels of the studied region. The analysis shows that the studied soils are polluted with Zn, Mg, Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and other chemical elements. The results obtained suggest a correlation between soil pollution and the concentrations of the measured heavy metals. Furthermore, the analysis shows that heavy metals, contamination is particularly related to the presence of lead, cadmium, and zinc. The zinc contamination in the soil is about 390 mg/kg for a standard of between 0.2 and 2 mg/kg. Lead concentrations are 53 mg/kg for a standard of 0.3 mg/kg. On the basis of Moroccan standards, the soil is contaminated by lead, cadmium, and zinc.