Metals Content in Soils of the Industrial Cities and the Industrial Workshops Area in Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia

Abstract

The metals content (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Li) of surface and subsurface soils was determined in the first and second industrial cities and the industrial workshops area in Riyadh city. Their levels were investigated in relation to soil depth and the land-use. The levels of Pb, Zn and Cu were found to be elevated in the industrial
workshops area and the first industrial city and to a lesser extent
in the second industrial city. Lead levels were attributed to the
automobile emission whereas Zn and Cu were found to be associated
with the industrial activities. Although the second industrial
city is newly developed, results of this work have revealed that
there are already high Zn, and to a lesser extent Cu, levels at certain
locations, where it is recommended that measures to control their
release be adopted immediately. Soil profile results showed Pb, Zn
and Cu were largely concentrated in the upper surface soils indicating
the atmospheric deposition as the main source of such metals.