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Hosseini, N., Sobhan Ardakani, S. (2025). Chemometric of potentially toxic elements in surface soils of Hamedan Megacity. , 39(2), 189-204. doi: 10.22092/ijsr.2025.370065.781
Nayereh Sadat Hosseini; Soheil Sobhan Ardakani. "Chemometric of potentially toxic elements in surface soils of Hamedan Megacity". , 39, 2, 2025, 189-204. doi: 10.22092/ijsr.2025.370065.781
Hosseini, N., Sobhan Ardakani, S. (2025). 'Chemometric of potentially toxic elements in surface soils of Hamedan Megacity', , 39(2), pp. 189-204. doi: 10.22092/ijsr.2025.370065.781
Hosseini, N., Sobhan Ardakani, S. Chemometric of potentially toxic elements in surface soils of Hamedan Megacity. , 2025; 39(2): 189-204. doi: 10.22092/ijsr.2025.370065.781

Chemometric of potentially toxic elements in surface soils of Hamedan Megacity

پژوهش های خاک
Article 4, Volume 39, Issue 2, September 2025, Pages 189-204    PDF (1.38 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.22092/ijsr.2025.370065.781
Authors
Nayereh Sadat Hosseini; Soheil Sobhan Ardakani*
Department of the Environment, Ha.C., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran.
Abstract
Contamination of urban soil with toxic pollutants as an important obstacle for sustainable development is a challenge and common environmental and health concern of urban ecosystems all over the world. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluating the concentrations, spatial variations, pollution and toxicity of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb in surface soil of Hamedan Megacity in 2023. In so doing, a total of 108 urban surface soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from 12 sampling sites with different land uses including industrial, commercial, and residential (4 sites of each land uses). After preparation and acid digestion of samples in the lab, tested element concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Also, contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), the mean effect range median quotient (mERM-Q) and the mean probable effect level quotient (mPEL–Q) indices were calculated. The results of the spatial variation of the element contents showed that the impact of human activities, especially industrial origin and traffic. The results of calculating the CF represented that the contamination of As, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb were "low" to "high". Also, the mean values of IPI with 1.00 displayed "moderate" contamination conditions in the study area. Besides, the mean values of mERM-Q and mPEL-Q of As, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb indicated that the elemental probability toxicity of soil samples was 21% and in the "moderate toxicity" category. Based on the results, it can be acknowledged that industrial and traffic activities as the main and primary origin of these elements had significantly contributed to their pollution in soil of Hamedan city. In conclusion, regular monitoring the content of PTEs and ecological and health risk assessment of contaminated urban surface soil with PTEs are recommended in order to maintain the health of the environment and citizens.
Keywords
Urban soil; Toxic Pollutants; Pollution index; Environmental toxicity
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