Dust Effect of Yasouj Cement Factory on Chemical Properties of Surrounded Soils

Atmospheric emissions from cement industry are one of the major sources of environmental pollution. To evaluate the effect of cement dust on some soil properties around Yasouj cement factory, 61soil samples were collected from different land uses at a depth of 0-30 cm. Different properties such as acidity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, calcium carbonate equivalent, sand, clay and silt percentages, total concentration of nickel, manganese, lead and cadmium were measured. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of the data. The results showed that the studied soils were calcareous, non-saline and alkaline and they had 18.44 to 54 percent calcium carbonate equivalent, 0.82 to 2.19 percent organic matter, 0.07 to 0.96 dS/m electrical conductivity and 6.72 to 8.02 pH. Nickel, Manganese, Lead and Cadmium concentrations ranged from 214.98 to 268.34,45 to 708, 2.25 to 168.75 and 0.37 to 11.12 mg kg-1, respectively. In the proposed samples, the mean concentration of nickel, manganese, lead and cadmium were 243.53, 436.46, 18.47 and 0.96 mg kg-1, respectively. The order of the average frequency of the heavy metals concentration was Mn> Ni> Pb> Cd. The concentration of nickel and cadmium in all soil samples and the concentration of manganese and lead in some soil samples around Yasuj cement factory were much higher than the USEPA standard levels. The high concentrations of these metals in surrounded soils are the result of different activities applied in the process of cement production and the movement of vehicles around the cement factory, illustrating the effect of pollutants released from this factory in increasing metals concentrations.