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Heavy metals contamination and ecological risks in agricultural soils of Uşak, western Türkiye: a geostatistical and multivariate analysis

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Abstract

This research aimed to determine and evaluate the concentrations of As, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb, and the physicochemical properties of 48 agricultural soil samples, to identify potential ecological risks and their sources associated with heavy metals contamination in Usak, western Türkiye. Various methods were used to assess ecological risks, including geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), degree of contamination (Cdeg), potential ecological risk (RI), and pollution load index (PLI). The heavy metals concentrations ranged from 4 to 61 mg/kg for As, 8–48 mg/kg for Cu, 0.01–0.06 mg/kg for Hg, 30–813 mg/kg for Ni, and 4–30 mg/kg for Pb. The mean As and Ni concentrations were much greater than Earth’s crustal average, the world’s mean values, and mean values from many other emerging countries. Igeo and EF values for As, Ni, and Pb indicate various degrees of contamination. Cdeg values show that 96% of the study area is affected to some degree by contamination. For RI values, 38% indicate ecological risks ranging from moderate to considerable degrees. PLI values show that 75% of the agricultural soils are moderately polluted. Spatial distribution maps of Cdeg, RI, and PLI show that the northeastern and southwestern parts of the study area have been polluted to different levels by As, Ni, and Pb. Industrial activities and excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides were identified as major sources of heavy metals contamination in the agricultural soils of Uşak.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Arden D. Davis, South Dakota School of Mines, for his assistance in proofreading the manuscript. Our sincere thanks also go to the editor for the insightful comments, which significantly improved the quality of this research.

Funding

This study was funded by Dumlupinar University with the project number BAP/2021–28.

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  1. Black Hills Natural Sciences Field Station, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E St. Joseph St., Rapid City, SD, 57701, USA

    Umit Yildiz

  2. Geological Engineering Department, Dumlupinar University, Evliya Celebi Yerleskesi Tavsanli Yolu 10. Km, Kutahya, Turkey

    Cafer Ozkul

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UY Sampling, Conceptualization, Map preparation, Software, Chemical analysis, Data analysis, Formal analysis, Writing—original draft. CO Supervision, Funding acquisition, Data analysis, Chemical Analysis, Methodology, Conceptualization, Formal analysis, review & editing.

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Yildiz, U., Ozkul, C. Heavy metals contamination and ecological risks in agricultural soils of Uşak, western Türkiye: a geostatistical and multivariate analysis. Environ Geochem Health 46, 58 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-01856-0

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