Soil pollution by industrial and agricultural waste

In modern economies, various types of activity, including agriculture, industry and transportation, produce a large amount of wastes and new types of pollutants. Soil, air and water have traditionally been used as sites for the disposal of all these wastes. Main aim of this present study was to investigate the effects of city rubbish dumping place on soil element concentrations in Kastamonu. Soil samples were taken from 5 locations (distances) (center, 100 m, 200 m, 300 m, 400 m and 2 km) and three directions (east, north and south) away from the city rubbish dumping place. The soil samples were taken randomly from 0-5cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm and 15-20 cm soil depths by digging two soil pits at each sampling site. The soil samples were analyzed for soil pH, soil texture, bulk density, some soil elements concentrations (Co, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ni, Hg, Cu, Cr, Cd and As). Results showed that there were significant (P<0.001) variations in soil pH, sand, clay and silt contents and soil elements with the distances. In general, soil pH, sand and silt contents decreased with the distances, whereas soil clay content increased with the distances. In general, all soil elements showed an increase with the distances. Only a few elements, for example Co and Mn, showed a decrease with the soil depths. But most soil elements did not vary with the soil depths.