Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils from Anthropogenic Activities

This timely book presents an assessment of heavy metal pollution in surface soils of an industrial cluster in Ghana, West Africa. It employs Energy-Dispersive (ED) X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy, a nuclear analytical technique, for the qualitative and quantitative elemental analysis of soil samples. The book however, is aimed to investigate the extent of heavy metal pollution and distribution as well as to verify any significant industrial impact. Concentrations of nine (9) heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Cd, Hg, and As) were measured and critically analyzed. These measured concentrations for each heavy metal were however compared to their respective threshold limit values (TLVs). The Particle-Size Distribution (PSD) analysis for the various sampled soils were also analyzed to verify any possibility of heavy metal seepage or infiltration, to establish any further possibility of underground water pollution.