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VOL. 12, ISSUE 8 (2025)
A Comparative Study of Heavy Metal Concentration in Different Layers of RICCO Near Border Soil and Near Agricultural Soil (Sriganganagar, Raj)
Authors
Sunita Nagpal, Dr. Harish Kumar
Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to
assess the extent of heavy metal contamination in soils from the RICCO
industrial zone (border vicinity) and to compare them with uncontaminated
agricultural soils, with particular emphasis on the influence of untreated
industrial effluents. Soil samples from multiple depths were analyzed for
chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) concentrations using the
atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) flame method. The findings revealed
pronounced spatial and vertical heterogeneity in metal distribution at the
RICCO site, where concentrations ranged from 559.81–32.59 mg/kg (Cr), 160.32–74.6
mg/kg (Zn), 69.59–23 mg/kg (Pb), and 2.26–0.69 mg/kg (Cd). By contrast, the
agricultural reference soils exhibited substantially lower values: 26.79–23.49
mg/kg (Cr), 27.0–12.61 mg/kg (Zn), 24.59–23.59 mg/kg (Pb), and 2.29–0.67 mg/kg
(Cd). These results demonstrate that soils adjacent to industrial effluent
discharge zones harbor markedly elevated concentrations of toxic metals
relative to agricultural soils. The enrichment of such pollutants in soil
matrices not only compromises crop quality and productivity but also
facilitates their translocation into the food chain, thereby posing severe
ecological and public health risks.
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Pages:77-79
How to cite this article:
Sunita Nagpal, Dr. Harish Kumar "A Comparative Study of Heavy Metal Concentration in Different Layers of RICCO Near Border Soil and Near Agricultural Soil (Sriganganagar, Raj)". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Vol 12, Issue 8, 2025, Pages 77-79
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