Environmental monitoring and risk assessment of the soil pollution around two cement factories in EL-Minia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Cement Kiln Dust (CKD), a by-product dust, is generated in large quantities during the manufacture of the cement. The fine particles of dust can be inhaled along with air and cause pollution to the soil around the cement factories. El-Minia Governorate, Egypt contains two cement factories. The first produces the white cement and the second produces the black cement. To environmentally monitor the soil pollution in the two studied areas, soil sampling was carried out in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western directions around each cement factory. Soil samples were taken at six different monitoring distances away from each cement factory which are: 50m, 100m, 500m, 1km, 5km, and 10km. The values of EC, PH, Pb, Ni, and Cd of each site of the studied four directions around the two cement factories were decreased by increasing the monitoring distance from 50m up to 10km away from each studied cement factory. The electrical conductivity values of the top soil of the monitoring points were ranged between non-saline and very slightly saline. The PH values of the top soil of the monitoring points were ranged between neutral and moderately alkaline. The values of lead, nickel, and cadmium of the top soil of the monitoring points were below the allowable concentrations in the arable soil. This indicated that concentration of lead, nickel, and cadmium in the top soil around the two cement factories still in a safe level.