Urban soil pollution in Damascus, Syria: concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of the Damascus Ghouta

Möller, Andreas; Müller, Hans; Abdullah, Abu Tareq Mohammad; Abdelgawad, G.; Utermann, Jens

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.04.003

Cited by 209 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 15 publications

(25 reference statements)

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“…Heavy metals pollution in the soil has become a serious issue due to a number of human activities, such as those related to the mining, mineral, smelting, and tannery industries (Moller et al 2005;Kasassi et al 2008). Heavy metals contribute to environmental pollution because of their unique properties; heavy metals are non-biodegradable, non-thermo-degradable, and generally do not leach from the topsoil and have the potential to accumulate in the different organs (such as the kidneys, bones, and liver) leading to unwanted side effects (Radwan and Salama 2006;Singh et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metals pollution in the soils of suburban areas in big cities: a case study

Taghipour

Mosaferi

Armanfar³

et al. 2013

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Soil pollution in agricultural areas surrounding big cities is a major environmental problem. Tabriz is the largest city in the northwest of Iran and the fourth largest city in the country. Soil samples were taken from 46 sites in the suburbs of the Tabriz city, and separate samples were taken from control site and analyzed. The results indicated that the mean pH value of the soil samples was 9.29, while the mean EC value was 354.33 ls/cm and the amount of TOC and TOM was 0.99 and 1.7 %, respectively. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn in the soil were determined to be 1. 61, 10.56, 101.25, 87.40, 38.73, and 98.27 mg/kg, respectively (dry weight). The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Zn), with the exception of Ni, were higher than the concentrations of the same heavy metals at the control site. Despite these elevated concentrations, the concentrations of heavy metals were lower than the toxicity threshold limit of agricultural soils. The values of the pollution index revealed that the metal pollution level was Pb [ Cr [ Cu [ Zn [ Cd [ Ni, and the mean value of the integrated pollution index was determined to be 1.81, indicating moderate pollution. Nevertheless, there were some sites that were severely polluted by Cr (maximum values of 1,364 mg/kg). It was concluded that city probably has affected the surrounding agricultural area. Application of wastewater (municipal and industrial) as irrigation water, using of sludge as soil fertilizer, and atmospheric perceptions have been considered as main reasons of increased heavy metals concentrations found in the studied area.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy metals pollution in the soils of suburban areas in big cities: a case study

Taghipour

Mosaferi

Armanfar³

et al. 2013

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change in ecosystem (Lone et al, 2008) and affect soil, plant, ground water and consequently human health (Möller et al, 2005 andAbdelhafez et al, 2014). Three factors determine the severity of a pollutant: its chemical nature, concentration and the persistence (Miller, 2007).…”

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confidence: 99%

Accumulation of some heavy metals in plants and soils adjacent to Cairo – Alexandria agricultural highway

et al. 2017

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A UTOMOBILE exhausts are considered the main source of air pollution with heavy metals. Airborne pollutants are precipitated on soils surrounding highways causing serious ecological hazards. The current study aimed at evaluating levels of Pb, Ni, Co and Cd in surface (015-cm) and subsurface (1540-cm) soils nearby Cairo-Alexandria agricultural highway, and their accumulation in plants grown thereon. Seven locations were sampled at interval distances 50 meters on both sides of the highway road near Toukh city (Qualubya Governorate). Cabbage and citrus plants were also sampled and separated into its parts. Results revealed that the investigated soils are contaminated with Pb, Ni and Cd. These contaminants were brought to the subsurface layers of the soil at relatively high concentrations. Total and DTPA-extractable contents of Pb and Ni in the top surface soil decreased with increasing the distance from the high way on both sides of the road. Moreover, concentrations of these metals in the cabbage parts were significantly correlated with their total and DTPA-extractable contents. However, Co and Cd in soils seemed to be not affected by the exhausts of the cars on the highway. Heavy metals decreased in cabbage parts as follows: root > stem > outer leaves > inner leaves > core. Calculated BAF values for Pb, Ni and Co were very low indicating that cabbage might be an excluder for these metals whereas, their transfer from roots to shoots (transfer factor, Ts) were high. Heavy metal concentrations in citrus decreased as leaves > flavedo > albedo > segments. Generally, concentrations of heavy metals in plants particularly Pb exceeded the permissible limits. 19

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“…This may potentially pose as a threat to ground water resources. In another study done in Damascus, Syria by Moller et al (2005), it was found that Cr concentrations of up to 1800 mg kg -1 were found near a tannery industrial estate. In a study conducted by Manta et al (2002) on urban top soil in Palermo (Sicily), Italy the ranges of heavy metals found were as follows; 10 to 344 mg kg -1 Cu, 0.27 to 3.8 mg kg -1 Cd, 12 to 100 mg kg -1 Cr, 57 to 2516 mg kg -1 Pb, 142 to 1259 mg kg -1 Mn, 7 to 38.6 mg kg -1 Ni and 52 to 433 mg kg -1 Zn.…”

Section: Heavy Metal Studies In Soilsmentioning

confidence: 97%

A review of heavy metals in soil and aquatic systems of urban and semi-urban areas in Malawi with comparisons to other selected countries

Kaonga¹,

Kosamu²,

Lakudzala³

et al. 2017

Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Growth of cities in developing countries comes with increasing transportation and industrial activities which may contribute to accumulation of heavy metals in the environment. This paper provides a review of studies on heavy metals in Malawi`s environment, their potential environmental impacts and possible removal methods with comparisons to other selected countries. The reviewed data from Malawi showed that in water samples, heavy metal concentrations were higher than World Health Organisation (WHO) and Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) safe limits especially in streams passing through industrial sites. Reports of heavy metals (especially Cu, Mn and Zn) showed that in industrial effluents, the individual levels of each of them were at least 6 times higher as compared to those in surface water bodies. In rivers there was accumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni and Zn) by algae whereby bioconcentration factors (BCF) ranged from 1.0 to 42 in some of the studies. Generally, metal levels in soils and selected organisms were much higher than those in water samples which further confirm possible accumulation. Since some aquatic organisms are consumed by humans, there is potential for the heavy metals to cause cancer and kidney damage. The studies done in Malawi compared well to those conducted elsewhere. The degradation of water resources by heavy metals compromises sustainability of water bodies and vital aquatic ecosystems hence negatively impacting on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) efforts. This calls for periodic heavy metal monitoring and identifying ways of reducing their release into the environment.

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Urban soil pollution in Damascus, Syria: concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of the Damascus Ghouta

Cited by 209 publications

References 15 publications

Heavy metals pollution in the soils of suburban areas in big cities: a case study

Heavy metals pollution in the soils of suburban areas in big cities: a case study

Accumulation of some heavy metals in plants and soils adjacent to Cairo – Alexandria agricultural highway

A review of heavy metals in soil and aquatic systems of urban and semi-urban areas in Malawi with comparisons to other selected countries

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