The relation between heavy metals distribution and particle size fractions in some egyptian soils

Abstract

Soil as a part of the environment receives pollutants from all types of human activities. Heavy metals originating from various organic waste sources and industrial activities accumulate in the soil surface, and their fate depends not only on the types and amounts of waste applied, but on soil properties. Furthermore, soils differ in their retention power for various heavy or trace elements. Twelve soil samples were selected from different sites irrigated with industrial and sewage wastes at Helwan city (Cairo Governorate) in the north and El-Saff (Giza Governorate) in the south. Separation of clay, silt and sand fractions were carried out. Chemical analyses of trace elements in the form of total and available contents (Fe, Mn, Zn and Pb) were determined in each fraction. The obtained results show that the average amounts of heavy metals in different fractions are related to the particle size of the soil especially the fine fraction. Heavy metals content was always in the surface layers higher than sub-surface. All metals were highest in clay fraction followed by silt and sand fractions respectively. This investigation discussed the importance of the fine fractions in the accumulation of heavy metals by coordination number in the lattice structure.