Assessing the spatial distribution of urban soil lead contamination in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia

Abstract

Yogyakarta is currently a developing city in Indonesia, and urbanization is a very relevant issue. One of the impact of urbanization was soil pollution which becomes an important and interesting environmental concern. This research aimed investigate lead (Pb) pollution level distribution using spatial analysis on lead (Pb) distribution in the soil at Yogyakarta city and its surroundings. The determination of the soil sampling location point was carried out using the gridding method, and the soil sampling was obtained at a depth of 10 cm. The concentration of lead (Pb) in the soil samples was measured using ICP-AES. The spatial analysis was carried out by making a level of distribution map of the lead (Pb) and then overlaying it with the data of residential, traffic, and industrial densities. These research results indicated that anthropogenic factors influenced the lead (Pb) concentration in the soil’s soil more than natural factors. The anthropogenic factors of settlement and traffic densities were thought to contribute most to the lead concentration in the soil at the research site. The industrial presence factor was less likely to contribute to the high Pb concentration in the soil at the study area.