Chemometric evaluation of heavy metals distribution in wastewater irrigated soil of peri-urban area

Characterization of content and source of heavy metals in soils are necessary to establish quality standards on a regional level. In relation to this, two zones, (sampling zone-1) and (sampling zone-2) depending on nature and intensity of wastewater disposal along the peri-urban area of Peshawar, Pakistan were selected. Thirty-six samples of wastewater and topsoil each were collected to determine the content of Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe and Mn, and physico-chemical parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and organic matter. Analytical determinations were performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy after microwave sample digestion in acid solution. Chemometric techniques which include hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis, correlation analysis, and tukey test were applied. Concentrations of physico-chemical properties in wastewater and soil were higher in sampling zone-2. Concentrations of six heavy metals in wastewater and two in soil exceeded permissible limits of World Health Organization (Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edition, 2011), European Union (Heavy metals in wastes, European commission on environment. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/studies/pdf/heavymetalsreport, 2002). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped eight heavy metals into two clusters for wastewater and five clusters for soils. Principal component analysis describes four factors possessing Eigenvalues greater than 1.0 and explained the cumulative total variance of 84% with factor 1, having positive loading of anthropogenic metals (Cd, Cu, and Ni). Significant correlation was found between anthropogenic metals like Ni and Cd in water and between Cu and Cr in soil. Further research in other agricultural lands in peri-urban region would improve the basis for proposing such soil quality standards.