EGU25-14122, updated on 15 Mar 2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14122
EGU General Assembly 2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Poster | Thursday, 01 May, 14:00–15:45 (CEST), Display time Thursday, 01 May, 08:30–18:00
 
vPoster spot 1, vP1.6
Spatial Distribution and Contamination Levels of Heavy Metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, and Zn) in Urban Topsoils of Jammu City, India
Ruby Gorka1 and Rakesh Kumar2
Ruby Gorka and Rakesh Kumar
  • 1UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU, University of Jammu, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, JAMMU, India (gorkaruby@gmail.com)
  • 2UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU, University of Jammu, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, JAMMU, India (rakeshkumaratri@gmail.com)

Abstract

Urban surface dust and soils serve as a primary source and reservoir of metals that substantially impact human health and urban ecosystems. This study investigates the impact of metal contamination on urban surface soils from diverse land-use locations and their potential risk to human health in Jammu City, India. A total of fifteen surface soil samples were collected to evaluate the total metal concentration (As, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn), Contamination Factor (CF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). The research findings of this study revealed significant variation in metal concentration. In comparison to Upper Continental Crust (UCC, taken as background here), the average concentration of Fe and Mn is lower across all locations, whereas As, Ni, Cu, and Zn are significantly higher over all locations. Elevated levels of Fe and Mn were observed higher near samples collected from industrial zones while Ni, As, Cu and Zn showed wider distribution throughout the study area. Apart from all metals, high As content was observed at near-construction and high-traffic interactions. Higher CF (CF > 6) and PLI values in surface soil samples revealed high contamination of As, Cu, Ni and Zn due to intensive industrial and vehicular emissions in the study area. Igeo values in surface soil samples indicated severe contamination of As, Cu, Ni and ZN in the study area, while Fe and Mn showed no contamination. PERI assessment in surface soil samples revealed extremely high ecological risk for As and Cu in Jammu City. Risk index values indicated that 40% of surface soil samples carried a very high risk (RI > 600) of metal contamination in the study area. The overall findings advised that industrial, transportation, and construction activities need to be improved to protect the region's environment and public health.

Keywords: Heavy metals, geo-accumulation index (IGeo), risk assessment, roadside dust.

How to cite: Gorka, R. and Kumar, R.: Spatial Distribution and Contamination Levels of Heavy Metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, As, and Zn) in Urban Topsoils of Jammu City, India, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-14122, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-14122, 2025.