Cadmium Investigations in Lahore Soil and Other Regions of Pakistan

Cadmium (Cd) is toxic even in the very trace amounts and shows adverse effects on the human being and his environment. Current studies were performed to evaluate the Cd concentration in soil of Lahore (Pakistan) and the results were compared with those reported from other cities of Pakistan. The metal concentration evaluated by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer (GFAAS). Cd concen- tration was found to be 1.39-20.82 µg/L, 1.38-93.60 µg/L, 2.42-94.60 µg/L, 2.25-93.98 µg/L and  1.15-8.14 µg/L in GT road, Misri shah, river Ravi, fertilized land of Raiwind side and unfertilized land of Raiwind side, respectively. The higher Cd concentration (2.42-94.60 µg/L) at "River Ravi" as compared to the other investigated areas (1.15-93.98 µg/L) is owed to the dumping of untreated waste from all  industrial, sewage, domestic and agricultural zones in "River Ravi". The fertilized land was found to possess higher amount of Cd as compared to the unfertilized land. The awareness in farmers and the  periodic monitoring of soil are important to eradicate the sources of Cd poisoning.