Erratum to “Heavy Metals in Soils around the Cement Factory in Rockfort, Kingston, Jamaica” [International Journal of Geosciences 2 (2011) 48-54]

A. Mandal^1*, M. Madourie¹, R. Maharagh¹, M. Voutchkov²

¹Department of Geography and Geology, University of West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
²Department of Physics, University of West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

DOI: 10.4236/ijg.2015.63018                

Abstract

This study deals with the distribution of heavy metals in soils around one of the most important industries in Kingston, Jamaica i.e. the Carib Cement factory at Rockfort. The dust emitted from the Caribbean Cement Company Limited (Carib Cement), located in Rockfort, Kingston, gets deposited in course of time over the soil, leaves and forms a grey cover on the surrounding soils. Geochemical analysis of the top soil, collected from the present study area has been undertaken to assess the impact of the dust emitted from the cement factory and its effect on the surrounding ecosystem. A total of seventeen top soil samples of 0-10 cm depth were collected from the close vicinity of the Rockfort and the Harbour view area and analysed by INAA, AAS, XRF for major, minor and trace elements. Results show that the top soils of the study area are enriched in Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, V, Pb, and Hg which are released into the air from the cement kilns. Results show that the soils are enriched in Ca with a maximum value of 18% followed by Al, Fe and Na. Heavy metals in the soils of the study area shows relatively high concentrations of zinc with a maximum of 132 ppm followed by Cr (57) ppm and Pb (32) ppm. Maximum concentrations were found in soils sampled at a distance of 2-3 m from the cement factory as opposed to samples collected much further ie from the Harbour View area. High concentrations of the heavy metals in the soils near the cement factory as opposed to those further away can be due to the emissions from the factory. A significant contribution can also come from traffic emissions as the study area is located along one of the busiest street of Kingston, Jamaica.

Keywords

Cement, Dust, Rockfort, Kingston, Heavy Metals, Jamaica

A. Mandal^1*, M. Madourie¹, R. Maharagh¹, M. Voutchkov²

¹Department of Geography and Geology, University of West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

²Department of Physics, University of West Indies, Mona, Jamaica

Email: ^*[e-mail]

4. Acknowledgements

The authors greatly acknowledge the services offered by the International Center for Nuclear Science, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Department of Chemistry at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Mona GeoInformatics Institute and Mines and Geology Division, Ministry of Energy, Mining & Telecommunication, in sample analysis and production of the map of the cement factory showing sites of sample collection. Acknowledgments are also due to the New Initiative Programme of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica which helped in securing the “New Initiative Grant” by A. Mandal for conducting the research.

NOTES

^*Corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	J. Pichtel, J, H. T. Sawyerr and Czarnowska, K, “Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Metals in Soils in Warsaw, Poland,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 98, No. 2, 1998, pp. 169-174. http://dx.doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(97)00131-0
[2]	K. Kim and S. Kim, “Heavy Metal Pollution of Agricultural Soils in Central Regions of Korea,” Water Air and Soil Pollution, Vol. 82, 1998, pp. 109-122. http://dx.doi:10.1007/s002540050484
[3]	V. K. Sharma, K. B. Rhudy, J. C. Cargill, M. E. Tacker and F. G. Vazquez, “Metals and Grain Size Distributions in Soil of the Middle Rio Grande Basin, Texas, USA,” Environmental Geology, Vol. 39, No. 2, 2000, pp. 698-704.
[4]	S. M. Ullrich, M. H. Ramsey and E. Helios-Rybicka, “Total and Exchangeable Concentrations of Heavy Metals in Soils Near Bytom, an Area of Pb/Zn Mining and Smelting in Upper Silesia, Poland,” Applied Geochemistry, Vol. 14, 1999, pp.87-196. http://dx.doi:10.1016/S0883-2927(98)00042-0
[5]	L. Bityukova, A. Shogenova and M. Brike, “Urban Geochemistry: A Study of Element Distributions in the Soils of Tallinn (Estonia),” Environmental Geochemistry and Health, Vol. 22, 2000, pp.172-193. http://dx.doi:10.1023/A:1006754326260
[6]	T. Sterckeman, F. Douay, N. Proix and H. Fourrier, “Vertical Distribution of Cd, Pb and Zn in Soils near Smelters in the North of France,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 107, 2000, pp. 377-389. http://dx.doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00165-7
[7]	P. S. Yarlagadda, M. R. Matsumoto, J. E. VanBenschoten, A. Kathuria, “Characteristics of heavy metals in contaminated soils,” Journal of Environmental Engineering, Vol. 121, No. 4, 1995, pp. 276-286. http://dx.doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1995)121:4(276)
[8]	T. B. Chen, W. J. C. Wong, H. Y. Zhou and M. H. Wong, “Assessment of Trace Metal Distribution and Contamination in Surface Soil of Hong Kong,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 96, 1997, pp. 61-68. http://dx.doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(97)00003-1
[9]	C. W. Gray, R. G. McLaren and A. H. C. Roberts, “Atmospheric Accessions of Heavy Metals to Some New Zealand Pastoral Soils,” The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 305, 2003, pp. 105-115. http://dx.doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00404-7
[10]	K. Semhi, S. A. Khirbash, O. Abdalla, T. Khan, J. Dupley, S. Chaudhuri and S. A. Saidi, “Dry Atmospheric Contribution to the Plant-Soil System around a Cement Factory: Spatial Variations and Sources—A Case Study from Oman,” Water Air and Soil Pollution, Vol. 205, 2010, pp. 343-357. http://dx.doi:10.1007/s11270-009-0079-8
[11]	O. A. Khashman and R. A. Shawabkeh, “Metal Distribution in Soils around the Cement Factory in Southern Jordan,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 140, 2006, pp. 387-394. http://dx.doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2005.08.023
[12]	H. Robotham, G. C. Lalor, A. Mattis and Rof. Rattray, “Trace Elements in Jamaican Soils,” Journal Radio Analytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 116, No. 1, 2003, pp. 27-34. http://dx.doi:10.1007/BF02037208
[13]	G. C. Lalor, et al., “A Geochemical Atlas of Jamaica,” Canoe Press, UWI, Kingston, Jamaica, 1995.
[14]	J. Garty, M. Kauppi and A. Kauppi, “Accumulation of Airborne Elements from Vehicles in Transplanted Lichens in Urban Sites,” Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 25, 1996, pp. 265-272. http://dx.doi:10.2134/jeq1996.00472425002500020009x
[15]	H. A. Carreras and M. L. Pignata, “Biomonitoring of Heavy Metals and Air Quality in Cordoba City, Argentina, Using Transplanted Lichens,” Environmental Pollution, Vol. 17, 2002, pp. 77-87. http://dx.doi:10.1016/S0269-7491(01)00164-6
[16]	A. Johnson, G. C. Lalor, J. Preston and M. Voutchkov, “Heavy Metal Pollution in Jamaica 2: Background Levels of Lead in Jamaican Soils,” Jamaican Jour of Science and Technology, Vol. 7 & 8, 1996, pp. 1-12.
[17]	K. M. Banat, F. M. Howari and A. A. Al-Hamad, “Heavy Metals in Urban Soils of Central Jordan: Should We Worry about Their Environmental Risks,” Environmental Research, Vol. 97, 2005, pp. 258-273. http://dx.doi:10.1016/j.envres.2004.07.002
[18]	J. B. Ellis and D. M. Revitt, “Incidence of Heavy Metals in Street Surface Sediments: Solubility and Grain Size Studies,” Water, Air and Soil Pollution, Vol. 17, 1982, pp. 87-100.