Spatial eco-risk assessment and prediction of heavy metal pollution in surface soil: a preliminary assessment of an urban area from a developing country

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the total concentrations of heavy metals (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn), evaluate potential ecological risks, and predict the heavy metal contamination of surface soil in Klang District (Malaysia). Iron (Fe) was discovered as the highest while Cadmium (Cd) was the lowest heavy metal concentration in the surface soil of Klang district. Based on the data collected, the mean values for potential ecological risk index of single elements decreased from cadmium to chromium. Predicted fixed numbers of years were 11 and 21 for Cd accumulations at accelerated and uniform modes, respectively.

Keywords:

• Heavy metal
• surface soil
• ecological risk
• prediction
• pollution

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Nurul Syazani Yuswir, Raihanah Binti Chokeli, Nur Aida Binti Aziz, and Fauzudin Bin Mislan for their assistance in field sampling.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Universiti Putra Malaysia Research University Grant Scheme (Vote Number 9335100).