Metal Pollution Assessment in Soil Samples of Mining Area, Shahr-E-Babak, Iran

Objective: Metal concentrations in 53 soil samples of Shahr-e-Babak were determined.  Methods: Assessment of enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index revealed higher degree of contamination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in soil samples. Moreover, results of metal fractionation study revealed high amount of Cd and Pb are associated in weakly bounds may lead to environmental risk of these metals.  Results: According to the results of risk assessment code and pollution index, Cd and Pb have the high risk of release and pollution degree in soil samples of Shahr-e-Babak. A new quality index named industrial pollution index was developed based on background values of metal and their toxicity in soil samples. Results exhibits higher degree of pollution based on new index (Iind) in south-eastern and central part of the study area where is close to the main anthropogenic sources.