NED University Journal of Research
ISSN 2304-716X
E-ISSN 2706-5758




ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS LEVELS IN URBAN SOILS OF TRIPOLI, LIBYA, USING POLLUTION INDICES AND MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

Author(s): Mansour Awiadat Salem1, Afiyah Salam Alnaas2, Ali Emran Alzarqa3, Omer Ahmed Sharif4, Yasser Fathi Nassar5, Mamdouh El Haj Assad6
1Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Alshatti University, Alshatti, Libya, Ph. +218(0)925731378, Fax: +218(0)715121019, E-mail: m.salem@wau.edu.ly.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Alshatti University, Alshatti, Libya, Ph. +218(0)3298327, Fax: +218(0)715121019, E-mail: m.alshatory@wau.edu.ly.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, University of Sirte, Libya, Ph. +218(0)926543793 Fax: +218(0)545260361. E-mail: Ali.Alzarqa@su.edu.ly.
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Alshatti University, Alshatti, Libya, +218(0)928165010, Fax: +218(0)715121019, E-mail: o.elsharef@wau.edu.ly.
5 Professor, Department of Mechanical and Renewable Energy Engineering, Wadi Alshatti University, Libya, Ph. +218(0)928748871, Fax: +218(0) 715121019. E-mail: y.nassar@wau.edu.ly.
6 Professor, Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE, Ph. +971(6)5053914, Fax: +971(6)5585191, E-mail: massad@sharjah.ac.ae.

https://doi.org/10.35453/NEDJR-ASCN-2023-0018.R7


Volume: XXI

No. 4

Pages: 37-59

Date: 2024

Abstract:
This study analysed forty-six soil samples from the top 15 cm (6 in.) of urban soil in Tripoli, Libya for heavy metal contamination using atomic absorption spectrometry. The metals assessed included cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr), with average concentrations of 3.94±1.93, 38.17±11.67, 170.94±62.68, 29.67±8.00, 19.70±8.75, 30.38±10.68, 27.444.52±8,739.15, 233.82±48.24, and 195.92±61.37 mg.kg-1.dwt (1.4E-4±7.0E-5, 1.35E-3±4.1E-4, 6.03E-3±2.21E-3, 1.05E-3±2.8E-4, 6.9E-4±3.1E-4 ,1.07E-3±3.8E-4, 0.97±3.08E-1, 8.25E-3±1.7E-3 and 6.91E-3±2.16E-3 oz.lb.-1.dwt), respectively. Most of these levels exceeded the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization and typical background values. Pollution indices suggested that the soil ranged from unpolluted to moderately polluted, with Cd, Co, Cr, and Zn being of particular concern. Cd was found to be the primary contributor to ecological risk, mainly from anthropogenic sources. Principal component analysis identified four key components: PC1 was dominated by Cd, Pb, and Zn with moderate contributions from Cu, related to human activities; PC2 was dominated by Fe and Cr; PC3 by Ni and Mn; and PC4 by Co and Cu, primarily from natural sources.