Physicochemical and Heavy Metal Properties of Soil Samples in Waste Disposal Site, Suq Al-Shyokh, Iraq

Abstract

In a number of third-world nations, municipal solid waste (MSW) is deposited on the ground without treatment. The accumulation of heavy metals in the surrounding environment is one of the greatest difficulties, and there is evidence that the toxic substances included in MSW can produce a variety of adverse consequences in humans. At the landfill in Suq al-shyokh City, Iraq, research was done to see if there was a seasonal change in the impact of solid waste discharge on the soil. In the investigation, electrical conductivity of the soil, pH, and the presence of heavy metals in organic matter were all considered. Transect sampling was utilized to gather soil samples from the surface to a depth of 20 centimeters at distances of 10, 30, and 60 meters from the perimeter of the landfills. Soil samples from the Suq al-shyokh dump sites have the nature of silty loam, have little organic matter, and are severely salinized. Increases in soil temperature decreased the soil's capilliary force, causing seasonal variations in the concentrations of specific chemical characteristics. During the two seasons, the average soil pH was 7.26, which is slightly alkaline, and 7.18, which is slightly acidic. Average EC measurements for both seasons revealed an increase in salt concentration (4.80 and 5.4). At the Al-Nasiriyah disposal site, soil physiochemical studies found an alarming upward trend in the vertical distribution of Pb, Cr, Cu, and Cd, which is indicative of the region's high pollution levels. The research revealed that heavy metal contamination of soil endangers the ecology and human health by contaminating groundwater supplies through the food chain.