The environmental assessment of some heavy metals in surface soil around pelletizing industries and Ardakan steel

The establishment of pelletizing and steel industries in Ardakan suburbs has increased the pollutants such as heavy metals into the environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contamination of the area soil by heavy elements around these industries using the pollution index (PI), comprehensive pollution index (NIPI), accumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment index (EF). 57 soil samples were prepared by systematic-random sampling from 0 to 5 cm depth and levels of As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were analyzed by ICP-OES. The highest and lowest mean of Igeo (0.49 and 0.36) and PI (2.16 and 1.17), were related to nickel, and the highest EF was calculated for Zn at about 25.1 and the lowest were detected for molybdenum approximately that was 17.1. The EF index of lead, vanadium and zinc, which was 15.8%, 5.3% and 1.8%, respectively, classified the study area in a medium enrichment class. Hot spots of lead, vanadium, nickel and zinc was at the nearest distance to these industries and downstream of wind direction. Indicators of Igeo and EF showed a low level of soil pollution. The PI and NIPI indices in most stations were classified in medium pollution class, and the highest of these indicators was related to the surface soil of station 30, which was located near the steel industry. Therefore, it can be concluded that the activities of these industries had affected the soil contamination of the study area.