Assessment of heavy metal pollution in soil of different land uses of in semi-arid region of Jaipur, Rajasthan

Due to extensive farming, urbanization and rapid growth, heavy metal contamination in soil has now a major issue in India. The semi-arid Jaipur region of Rajasthan underwent an environmental geochemistry assessment to ascertain the impact of pollution in the study area seasonally in the 2022. Soil samples collected from agriculture, industrial and forest area (as a control) in Jaipur were examined for soil physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal content, i.e., Cr, Pb, Ni, Cd, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe by using the APHA method through an atomic absorption spectro photo meter. The determined mean metal concentration is in the order of Zn > Fe > Mn > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cu > Cd. Heavy metal contamination is also assessed using pollution indices like contamination factor, contamination degree, geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor and potential ecological risk index. Conclusively, the concentration of heavy metals in the soil samples is within permissible limits according to prescribed standards.