Impact of industrialization on heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils in Sonepat, Haryana – A National Capital Region of India

The present study was conducted to assess the impact of industrialization on heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils in Sonepat district, National Capital Region, India. A total of 23 agricultural soil samples collected from different locations of the study area were analyzed for pH, total organic carbon, and heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn, Mn, Co, and Fe). pH and total organic carbon in the soil samples were 7.81±0.25 and 0.59±0.12 percent. Average concentrations of metals in soil were found to be in the order of Fe>Mn> Zn> Ni> Cr> Cu>Pb> Co> Cd with concentration values (mg/kg) as 17977.06> 325.43> 91.31> 51.62> 43.82> 34.37> 32.29> 2.16> 1.19. The contamination factor (CF) and geo-accumulation index analysis revealed that the agricultural soils were contaminated with Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn. A moderate potential ecological risk was found in most of the soil samples due to the presence of Cd. Interpretation of enrichment factor (EF) showed that Cd, Mn, and Zn were mainly anthropogenic in origin while Ni and Pb were both anthropogenic and crustal in origin. The health risk index on inhabitants due to exposure to heavy metals in agricultural soils was calculated for oral, dermal, and inhalation pathways and the values obtained were below 1, showing no significant health effects due to direct exposure