Determination of Heavy Metals in the Vegetable Farm Soils of Industrial and Non-Industrial Areas in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract

This study aimed to determine and compare the presence of heavy metals and to assess the physico-chemical properties of vegetable farm soils in Budaiya and Sitra, Kingdom of Bahrain and the results on the physicochemical analysis were compared against the environmental standard composition of farm soil. The physico-chemical analysis on the soil samples were done in the biochemistry laboratory while the analysis of heavy metals and macronutrients was done in an ISO certified laboratory. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy was done in assessing the amount  of Lead, Cadmium, S0₄^-2, N0₃^-1and P0₄^-3 while the spectrophotometer was used to determine the amount of Ca⁺² , Mg⁺², K⁺, and Fe⁺²and have been found out through T-test that there is no significant difference on  these components thus, they are comparable to the normal composition though Mg⁺²and N0₃^- is quite higher when compared to the normal composition of both sites of vegetable farm soils indicating the soil is slightly acidic and has that ability to absorb most of the micro-nutrients. Further, the determination of pH was carried out with an average pH of 6.87 which is still within the standard pH for garden soils ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 although slightly more acidic in Sitra. Lastly, the vegetable farm soils was found to be positive with heavy metal lead in both areas and while traces of cadmium was found in Sitra and found negative with heavy metal cadmium in Budaiya.

Keywords: Heavy metals, physico-chemical properties, elemental composition, Polyatomic ions, micronutrients, macronutrients, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy