Contamination assessment of heavy metals in the soils of an abandoned copper mine in Lasail, Northern Oman. Issue 3 (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palanivel, Thenmozhi Murugaian; Victor, Reginald
• Is Part Of: International journal of environmental studies. Volume 77:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 432
• Page End: 446
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Assessment -- contamination -- heavy metals -- soils -- remediation -- Oman; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; 333.707
• DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2019.1644030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7233

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Abandoned mine areas exhibit heavy metal contamination. This severely reduces the soil quality. This paper concerns the assessment of soils near an abandoned copper mine in Lasail, northern Oman. Seventy-two soil samples were collected and analysed for heavy metals using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The extent of heavy metal pollution was evaluated based on the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), and pollution index (PI). According to these indices, Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As) and Iron (Fe) are impacting the soils. Of these, Cu and Hg concentrations are 50 and 300 times more than the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). There is an urgent need for the remediation and restoration of the soils in this area and a proposal is presented here.