Environmental Impact of Sulaimani Steel Plant (Kurdistan Region, Iraq) on Soil Geochemistry

Abstract

Steel is an indispensable material that is used in a wide range of products and that contributes significantly to economic development. However, steel production can affect soil quality and is associated with the pollution of local areas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the mineral and geochemical composition of soils in the vicinity of the Sulaimani Steel Plant (SSP) in Bazian Region, Kurdistan, Iraq. A total of 35 soil samples were collected in the vicinity of SSP. The samples were analyzed for their mineral and geochemical composition, including 10 major, and 40 trace and rare earth elements. In addition, the soils were analyzed for their particle size distribution, pH, and organic matter content. The distribution of elements in the soils was found to be influenced by the texture, organic matter content (0.34–9.28%), and prevailing wind direction. The assessment of soil contamination near the steel plant confirmed high to extremely high enrichment with Cr (EF up to 20.7), Ni (EF up to 14.2), Pb (EF up to 80.4), and Th (EF up to 50.4), indicating that it is a significant source of heavy metals and poses a high risk to soil health.

Keywords

• trace elements
• rare earth elements
• steel plant
• soil geochemistry
• environmental impact