Assessment of Lead Concentration in the Surface and Profile Soil

Abstract

There is a lead in the earth of the crust, among other. Lead is widely used in industry for building construction, lead-acid batteries, bullets, shot, etc. Lead poisoning is an important environmental pollutant that can have life-long adverse health effects. Lead causes symptoms ranging from the loss of neurological function to death depending upon the extent and duration of exposure. The current study reports the determination of lead concentration in soil samples, distribution of lead on the surface and its penetration in the profile of soils. We have selected 21 sampling point at a distance 80-600 m around Former Factory Production of Batteries to Berat, Albania. We have collected a total of 28 soil samples (surface and profile). All the representative soil samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for their lead content. The concentration ranges of lead in soil samples collected at different points are compared with the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) specified by the Directive 86/278/EEC. From results obtained the fraction of lead in surface soil samples was in range: 126 mg/kg-24207 mg/kg. We have calculated Hazardous Quoted (HQ) for each point sampling. The level of lead in the profile of worked soil samples, in the depth 20-30 cm has decreased compared to the concentration of lead concentration in surface soil samples.  Analysis of this study was performed in the Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics, University of Tirana, Albania.

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