Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes
The present research was carried out to examine the health and environmental impacts associated with coal mining activities in the Makarwal coal mining area in Pakistan. To achieve the objectives, 41 soil samples were collected from the coalmine-affected areas and analyzed for major and toxic trace...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/821 |
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| author | Liaqat Ali Shehzad Ali Seema Anjum Khattak Hammad Tariq Janjuhah George Kontakiotis Rahib Hussain Shah Rukh Mohammad Tahir Shah George D. Bathrellos Hariklia D. Skilodimou |
| author_facet | Liaqat Ali Shehzad Ali Seema Anjum Khattak Hammad Tariq Janjuhah George Kontakiotis Rahib Hussain Shah Rukh Mohammad Tahir Shah George D. Bathrellos Hariklia D. Skilodimou |
| author_sort | Liaqat Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present research was carried out to examine the health and environmental impacts associated with coal mining activities in the Makarwal coal mining area in Pakistan. To achieve the objectives, 41 soil samples were collected from the coalmine-affected areas and analyzed for major and toxic trace elements (TTEs) using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Most of the soil samples have extremely high concentrations of toxic metals such as Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb. The positive correlations and high concentration of trace elements in the Makarwal coalmine-affected region suggest an analogous origin of soil contamination. The factor analysis (FA) showed two components, i.e., F1 (53.4%) and F (74.21%), of total variability for soil. The F2 was loaded with Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr, which was similar to cluster 2, while the F1 was loaded with Cu and Cr, having a similar pattern to cluster 1. This proves that the contamination in the surrounding area is mostly associated with geological ore strata existing in the Makarwal coalfield. Based on geoaccumulation (I<sub>geo</sub>), the elemental concentration in the studied soil sample could be categorized as follows: (1) Pb, Ni, and Zn are moderate to severely polluted and (2) Cr and Cu are in the moderately polluted category. The ecological risk indices (ERIs) of the single trace element contamination index highlighted that Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr pose a high risk to humans and the ecosystem. Based on different statistical tools performed for the source identification and distribution of metal contamination, it seems that the exposed sedimentary rocks, including limestone, dolomite, sandstone, and coal, are responsible for the toxic metal contamination in the study area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:50:40Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:50:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d27498c0d05473bb6802ea613264e0f2023-11-17T20:02:41ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2023-04-0112482110.3390/land12040821Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health OutcomesLiaqat Ali0Shehzad Ali1Seema Anjum Khattak2Hammad Tariq Janjuhah3George Kontakiotis4Rahib Hussain5Shah Rukh6Mohammad Tahir Shah7George D. Bathrellos8Hariklia D. Skilodimou9National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, PakistanNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, PakistanNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, PakistanDepartment of Geology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal 18050, PakistanDepartment of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Earth Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15784 Athens, GreeceNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, PakistanNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, PakistanNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, PakistanSector of General, Marine Geology & Geodynamics, Department of Geology, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Patras, GreeceDepartment of Geology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, GreeceThe present research was carried out to examine the health and environmental impacts associated with coal mining activities in the Makarwal coal mining area in Pakistan. To achieve the objectives, 41 soil samples were collected from the coalmine-affected areas and analyzed for major and toxic trace elements (TTEs) using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Most of the soil samples have extremely high concentrations of toxic metals such as Ni, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Pb. The positive correlations and high concentration of trace elements in the Makarwal coalmine-affected region suggest an analogous origin of soil contamination. The factor analysis (FA) showed two components, i.e., F1 (53.4%) and F (74.21%), of total variability for soil. The F2 was loaded with Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr, which was similar to cluster 2, while the F1 was loaded with Cu and Cr, having a similar pattern to cluster 1. This proves that the contamination in the surrounding area is mostly associated with geological ore strata existing in the Makarwal coalfield. Based on geoaccumulation (I<sub>geo</sub>), the elemental concentration in the studied soil sample could be categorized as follows: (1) Pb, Ni, and Zn are moderate to severely polluted and (2) Cr and Cu are in the moderately polluted category. The ecological risk indices (ERIs) of the single trace element contamination index highlighted that Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr pose a high risk to humans and the ecosystem. Based on different statistical tools performed for the source identification and distribution of metal contamination, it seems that the exposed sedimentary rocks, including limestone, dolomite, sandstone, and coal, are responsible for the toxic metal contamination in the study area.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/821coalfieldecological risk mappinggeostatisticshealth riskpollution indicesTTEs |
| spellingShingle | Liaqat Ali Shehzad Ali Seema Anjum Khattak Hammad Tariq Janjuhah George Kontakiotis Rahib Hussain Shah Rukh Mohammad Tahir Shah George D. Bathrellos Hariklia D. Skilodimou Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes Land coalfield ecological risk mapping geostatistics health risk pollution indices TTEs |
| title | Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes |
| title_full | Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes |
| title_fullStr | Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes |
| title_short | Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes |
| title_sort | distribution risk assessment and source identification of potentially toxic elements in coal mining contaminated soils of makarwal pakistan environmental and human health outcomes |
| topic | coalfield ecological risk mapping geostatistics health risk pollution indices TTEs |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/821 |
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