English abstract
The increase in the number of heavy metal emitting sources in industrial areas has become the main concern for the environmental scientists. Sohar Industrial Port (SIP) area is located in the northern part of Oman where different industrial activities like petrochemical activities, metal processing, and waste disposal are presented. To comprehensively identify the content of heavy metals like aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cupper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) in the soils in and around Sohar Industrial Port area and its geogenic or anthropogenic origin, 35 soil samples were collected. Soil characteristics including pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, soil texture and minerals were determined. Heavy metals were extracted by acids and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results showed that Cr and Ni concentrations were high inside the port area; they most probably share the same source related to industrial activities like steel processing and waste disposal. In contrast, Pb and Zn concentrations were high in the area which is characterised by high vehicle traffic. These results were supported by the spatial distribution and cluster analysis. These results will provide the concerned authorities with baseline data for establishing soil quality standards in industrially developing areas of Oman.
