Abstract

Impact of second gas power plant in South Baghdad, near University of Baghdad, on soil and plant contamination at university site with some heavy metals (Ni, Pb, and Cd) resulting from gases, smoke, and volatile vapors was studied. Soil samples and samples of cultivated plants and growing trees were taken at the university at a distance of 250 and 500 meters from the center of station in four directions. Soil samples were also taken from sites covering most of university area and at different distances with a depth of 0-30 cm. Comparative samples were also taken within a distance of 1-2 km from station with three replicates. Results indicated the following: 1-Concentrations of total and available Lead, Cadmium, and Nickel in soil of University of Baghdad varied at different sites depending on their proximity or distance from second South Baghdad Gas Power Plant for generating electrical power and their location relative to the main street at university. Highest concentration of total Lead was found in a site in front of Faculty of Science building near main street, 27.72 mg kg-1, for Cadmium 57.50 mg kg-1 at site inside Faculty of Agricultural Engineering Sciences research station in front of college deanship located 1000 m to north of e station, total Nickel 148.00 mg kg-1 at site next to station’s garage, which is 250 m to south of station. concentrations of elements in plant, they reached for Lead, 5.10 mg kg-1 dry matter in sites in front of Faculty of Political Science, next to the research station of Faculty of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, near sanitary landfill area, and at a distance of 250 m, for Cadmium, 2.26 mg kg-1 dry matter in sites inside research station of Faculty of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, in front of Deanship building, for Nickel, 2.90 mg kg-1 dry matter in site next to private garage in the station, which is 250 m away. 2- Concentrations of total and available Lead in soil and plants did not exceed the internationally permissible limits, therefore soil and plants are not contaminated with Lead. All soils and plants are considered contaminated with Ccadmium, as they exceeded internationally permissible limits for this element in soil and plants. Concentrations of total Nickel in soil exceeded the internationally permissible limits, therefore soil is considered contaminated with Nickel,while Nickel concentrations in plants did not exceed internationally permissible limits, therefore plants are not contaminated with Nickel. This study highlights the necessity of continuous monitoring and adopting phytoremediation or soil management practices to reduce heavy metal accumulation around the power plant.

Keywords: Soil and plant pollution, Heavy metals, Second baghdad south gas power plant