Assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soil and monitoring by GIS in Erbil governorate

The contamination of soil with heavy metals poses a serious environmental threat, ranking among the most pressing global environmental issues. Pollution by toxicants is a critical environmental concern, presenting significant threats to both human health and agricultural production. Heavy metals and pesticides are at the forefront of environmental toxicants, posing a danger to nature. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the distribution of specific heavy metals in soil and assess the factors contributing to soil pollution with different heavy metals. To achieve this, the study involves the determination of heavy metal concentrations, including Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb, in 60 samples collected from six different soil locations in the Erbil governorate. Soil samples were collected at two depths: 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm. The analysis included the determination of concentrations of Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb. Following the analysis and a comparison of the results with the maximum international allowable concentration of heavy metals in soil, GIS was employed to facilitate the study of heavy metals. Heavy metal concentrations in the study area were mapped within the GIS environment. Overall, the results indicated that both location and depth significantly influenced concentrations of Ni, Cu, As, Cd, and Pb. The highest and lowest values for Ni (57.23 and 23.13 ppm), Cu (68.47 and 41.19 ppm), As (5.49 and 3.07 ppm), Cd (1.64 and 1.47 ppm), and Pb (12.02 and 8.96 ppm) were obtained from the combination treatments of L3 D2 and L1D1, respectively. The study also highlighted the deleterious implications of heavy metals and pesticides on human health. It discussed the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between heavy metals and pesticides, emphasizing their combined toxic effects. The information provided in this study offers profound insights into the understanding of environmental toxicants and their hazardous effects.