Adaptive geospatial modeling of soil contamination by selected heavy metals in the industrial area of Sheikhupura, Pakistan

Abstract

The growing industrial tendency and waste generation has become a major carcinogenic source of soil pollution in the developing countries like Pakistan, with no implantation of policies and pollution standards. The main aim of this study was to analyze the integrated environmental risk of heavy metals in soil of the industrial area, district Sheikhupura, Pakistan. The concentration of three heavy metals chromium, cadmium, lead and physiochemical parameters was evaluated at three soil depths using empirical Bayesian kriging, geospatial and spatial autocorrelation Moran’s I techniques. The factor analysis and principal component analysis identified the heavy metals as a major carcinogenic source in the soil. The heavy metal contamination severity was assessed through the geoaccumulation index and Nemerow integrated pollution index at the scale of six classes, and significant (p > 0.05) pollution areas were delineated. The percolation of effluent by irrigation and rainfall is the primary carrier of metal pollutants to lower depths of soil. The heavy metals contamination in the soil causes food and human body accumulation which is carcinogenic for the human health. The research signifies an adaptive and comprehensive approach in analyzing the pollution sources, their distribution pattern and quantification of contamination at a spatial scale.