Studying the Effects of Pollutants from Industrial Facilities on Soil and Plant Pollution

Abstract

Industrial facilities that participate significantly in the production of many human needs and are useful in various activities. This study evaluates the impact of an electric power generation station, an oil refinery, and a brick factory on emissions and liquid waste that pollute soil and plants with lead and cadmium in the surrounding areas. Soil samples were taken in four dimensions, with a distance of 500 m between each sample. the results showed that the levels of heavy metals analyzed were high for both lead and cadmium, as the lead concentration ranged between 150.30 - 22.15, 240.40 - 30.20, and 250.33 - 21.91. The results indicated the total concentration of cadmium, which ranged between (0.50 - 2.20) and (0.90 - 2.51). ) and (0.55 - 1.66) mg Cd kg-1 soil for each of the electric power generation station, oil refinery, and brick factories, respectively. The highest value of the pollution factor was recorded at distance of 500 m, which amounted to 11.42, which is within the range of CF ˃6. This indicates very high pollution. As for the distance of 2000 m, it reached 3.65, which indicates high pollution. The highest value for the environmental risk index Er with lead in the soil of brick factories was at the distance of 500 and 1000 m, as it reached 57.10 and 41.10 respectively. It was with low limits to Moderately toxic to lead and moderate to highly toxic to cadmium. However, a mechanism must be developed to reduce the concentrations of these elements, which are enriched by these industrial facilities.

Keywords

• pollutants
• heavy metals
• environmental risk
• contamination factor
• oil refinery
• brick factories