Effect of Sepahan Cement Factory on Heavy Metals Contamination in Soils of Dizicheh Area of Isfahan

Soil pollution due to heavy metals subsidence from cement industry has harmful effects on soil, plant and human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Sepahan cement factory on heavy metals contamination in the soils of Dizicheh area of Isfahan province. In order to do this study, 52 soil samples were collected from different land uses including: agricultural lands, gardens and green space. Total concentration of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) in samples were measured. Contamination factor (CF) was used to determine soil contamination with heavy metals. The distribution map of contamination factor was plotted using inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. The results showed that the heavy metals concentration in the studied area was lower than the permissible limit provided by the Iran Department of Environment, while the amount of contamination factors indicated the degree of contamination of heavy metals in the studied area. Also, the highest contamination factor values of heavy metals except Cd were in the average contamination category (1<CF<3). The highest value of mean contamination factor in the studied region was obtained for Cd in green space land use (5.88) and with high contamination category. Spatial distribution of heavy metal’s contamination factors indicated high contamination factor’s values especially Pb and Cd around cement factory (green space land use).