HEAVY METALS POLLUTION AND RISK ASSESSMENT at SOIL AND AIR IN THE VICINITY OF ELECTRIC POWER STATION WEST OF ALEXANDRIA CITY, EGYPT

Levels of total amounts of heavy metals (As. Cd. Cu, Cr. Ni. Hg and Zn) have
been measured in both soit and air samples in Ihe vicinity of electric power stati n
(EPS) at Sidi Kirayer, west of Alexandria. to assess the quality ot soil and air at th s
area. The chemical fraclions of these metals in soils has been measured. The (I k
assessment has been carried out to define the impact of the present levels of Ihese
metals on human health.
The analytical data showed that the air of the studied area is highly polluted
by Cr, Cd and Cu as compared with the unpolluted air.                                       I
 
The results indicated Ihat Ihere were marked decreases in the levels 9f
metals with the distance from the electric power staticn (EPS). The highest reccroed
levels of total As. Cd. Cu, Cr, Ni, Hg and Zn were found in the soil of Ihe upper layer
(0·25cm) of site No. 1 and were, on the average, 0.5, 1.4, 1.8. 3.5. 5.4, 0.9 and 58
mg/1(9 SOil. respectively. The results also indicated that most of rnetats are
accumulated in the surface soil/ayer and the downward mobility of metals in the soil
profile is negligible. The lowest recorded levels of total metals in soils were found ir
the deepest layer (50-100 em) of sile NO.4 and were 0.008, 0.11, 0.085, 0.08. 0.5,
0.03 and 10.5mg kg-1 soil for As, Cd, Cu. Cr, Ni. Hg and Zn, respectively. TheSr
value are considered the background levels of total metals in the studied soil. Th~
metals fractionation of the studied soils showed thai most of Cd, Ni and Zn occurred i
the carbonate fraction, while Cu and Cr occurred in the organic and sulfide fraction.
 
Risk assessment of heavy metals in air and soil indicated thai the iohak ..• no
pathway is Ihe most effective for carcinogenic hazardous metals. Cadmium was th
highest regarding the non-carcinogenic effects which had Health quoelion of 80 in ai .
On the other hand, chromium was the highest among the measured carcinogeni
metals in this work. The risk estimaled, due to the recorded Cr level. was 53.04
cases per million.