Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb background values determination in representative Lebanese soil using the thick target PIXE technique

Abstract

Soil contamination by heavy metal ions is one of the most serious environmental problems. The determination of the natural levels or background values of heavy metals in agricultural soils is the first step for soil contamination assessment. The background values of heavy metals should constitute the base serving to evaluate the impact of land use on soil pollution and to determine the trigger values and intervention levels, which is very important for decision makers and planners in the field of land management and land use. In this paper 104 agricultural soil samples collected from the North Lebanon region, covering the soil surface and subsoil horizons and originating from 46 soil profiles, were analyzed using the thick target PIXE (TT-PIXE) technique. The background values for Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb were determined and discussed in relation to their horizon depths and to the soil lithological classes characterizing the studied region. This study is the first attempt to lay the basis for soil assessment based on land quality.