Appraisal of metallic pollution and ecological risks in agricultural soils of Alborz province, Iran, employing contamination indices and multivariate statistical analyses

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study was done to evaluate the pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, sand, silt, clay, available K and P, organic carbon, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe in agricultural soils of Alborz province, Iran. A total of 46 samples were collected as composite samples from 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths. The average values of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn were found lower than the European limits, Indian limits, and Earth’s crust. Pearson’s correlation analysis found that pH effects Zn retention and, Cu and Mn retention in soil samples. Cluster analysis and Principal component analysis established that HMs are originated from different sources. Contamination factor (CF) and ecological risk index (RI) results showed less contamination and ecological risk in soil samples. Enrichment factor (EF) and modified ecological risk index (MRI) results indicated high enrichment and ecological risk of Cu, Mn, and Zn in surface and sub-surface soil samples.