Author(s)

Hassan A. A. Al-Jumaily^*

Department of Applied Geology, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq.

The present work is to evaluate and investigate the distribution of heavy metals (As, Cr and Cd) and to assess the road side samples contamination using an Index (SEPI), (CPI), (GAI), (CF) and (PLI). From right and left Khasa in Kirkuk city, road soil samples were collected in order to estimate the probable contamination level of heavy metals (Cd), (As) and (Cr) in the study area. The heavy metal concentrations were determined in the way side samples by using (ICP-MS) technique. The 22 samples have collected in August, 2013. The results of average levels of heavy metals revealed Cr, As and Cd recorded the highest concentration of (178.6 ppm, 10.4 ppm and 0.599 ppm) in right Khasa respectively. These heavy metals are recorded the lowest value (165.8, 8.29 and 0.4 ppm) in left Khasa respectively. However, the concentration of Cr and As was higher than the studied worldwide permissible of contaminated soil. The highest (SEPI) for As in right Khasa and Cr in left in Khasa seems therefore to be that this road side soil is the most polluted in the city of Kirkuk classified moderately contamination. The accounted of (CPI) for As, Cd and Cr ranged from 0.82 to 1.30 with average 1.01 and 0.6 to 1.12 with an average 0.78 in right and left Khasa respectively. The highest values in the right Khasa which suggest multi-elements contamination and suggested this area of study area received more heavy metals comes from manmade and industrial activities. The GAI showed a moderate contaminated with Cd in right Khasa of study area, while the other metals are in their uncontaminated level. The CF results has been showed by a considerable contamination metals (As, Cr and Cd) in of right Khasa, but low to moderate contamination in left Khasa. The results of (PLI) revealed a deterioration of site quality in all samples of Kirkuk city. Thus the evaluation methods revealed that the studied areas especially right Khasa impacted with heavy industrial activity, phosphate fertilizer, emission of gasses from automobile manufacture tire abrasion and workshop causing an increasing in metal concentrations towards the right Khasa.

Pollution, Geo Accumulation Index, Contamination Factor, Pollution Load Index, Iraq

Al-Jumaily, H. (2016) An Evaluation Performance of Potential Pollution of Arsenic, Chromium and Cadmium in the Road Side Soil of Kirkuk City, Northern Iraq. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 4, 80-94. doi: 10.4236/gep.2016.49007.