Assessment of ecological risk potential in metal-contaminated soils of Baghdad city, Iraq

Abstract

Metal pollution in the soil leads to the deterioration of agricultural production by negatively affecting the all properties of the soil. Because the more than 7 million people living in and the old military camp was used as residence by poor families after the war of 2003, Baghdad city has a risk factor from metal pollution. With this aim, metal pollution in the soil of Baghdad city was studied. Three different sites (farm, camp, and park) were selected. Ten soil samples were taken randomly from 0-15 cm depth on each of the sites. Concentrations of metals [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni)] of soil samples were measured using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Basic soil properties such as texture class and pH were measured on the disturbed samples. Concentrations increased Cr