Appraisal of Heavy Metals in Soil/Sediments with Relation to their Physico-chemical Properties from Ankaleshwar Industrial Area, South Gujarat

Extensive industrialization in the southern part of Gujarat is characterized by regional pollution of soil and water resources. In view of this, the present study has been undertaken in Ankaleshwar, one of the biggest industrial townships of India. About, 25 surface sediment /soil samples were collected from top 10 cm representing entire study area and were analyzed for heavy metals by using X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). The heavy metals concentrations were compared with the standard shale to find out pollution index (PI), results shows the significant enrichment for arsenic, moderate enrichment for Pb and minimal enrichment for metals in descending order as Fe>Mn>Cr>Ni>Co>Zn>Cu>Mo. Physico-chemical properties such as texture, cation exchange capacity, total carbonate and organic matter, as well as the percentages of the sand, silt, and clay fractions have been examined. It is observed that heavy metals like Ni, Cu, Zn, and Mo show a positive correlation with the silt size fraction. Similarly, Mn, Cr, As, and Pb show positive correlation with clay size fraction. Chemical properties like EC, CEC and organic matter have control over majority of heavy metals. High correlation with these properties suggests that higher ionic conductivity soils have high heavy metal content. The effect of these properties can be arranged in descending order as follows: EC >OM > Clay % >Silt % > CEC.