![alues of contamination factor (Cf) of different metals in open mine and tailing dump of surrounding territories of Akhtala ore processing combine C. Contamination Evaluation Based On Degree of Contamination (Cd) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) The values of the Degree of contamination (Cd) is presented in Fig. 3. By Cd value reduction the 19 investigated soil samples made the following series: 16 > 14 > 15 > 13 > 12 > 10 > 18 > 17 > 11 > 19 > 2 > 3 > 1 > 7 > 9 > 8 > 6 > 5 > 4. By Cd value the 68,4% of soil samplesfall in the moderate level of contamination (5 <Cd< 10), 31,6% in the considerable level of contamination (10 <Cd< 20). Pollution severity and its variation along the sites were determined with the use of Pollution load index. This index is a quick tool in order to compare the pollution status of different places [35]. The pollution load index is presented in Fig. 3. The values of Pollution load index were found to be generally high (PLI> 1) in all the studied stations. Most high value of the Pollution load index was observed in №16 sample (PLI = 1,98), and most low value-in №4 sample (PLI = 1,23).](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Karen-Ghazaryan-2/publication/328228941/figure/fig2/AS:680656807927817@1539292637944/alues-of-contamination-factor-Cf-of-different-metals-in-open-mine-and-tailing-dump-of_Q320.jpg)
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Abstract—For the assessment of the soils pollution level of the
open mine and tailing dump of surrounding territories of Akhtala ore
processing combine by heavy metals in 2013 collected soil samples
and analyzed for different heavy metals, such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and
Cd. Akhtala ore processing combine is situated in the north-east of
Armenia (Lorimarz). The soils of two riskiest sites of this region
were studied: surroundings of open mine near the Shamlugh town
and surroundings of the Chochkan active tailing dam.The mountain
cambisolwas themain soil type in the study sites. To classify soil
pollution level contamination indices like Contamination factors (Cf),
Degree of contamination (Cd), Pollution load index (PLI) and
Geoaccumulation index (I-geo) are calculated. The distribution
pattern of trace metals in the soil profile according to I geo, Cf and
Cd values shows that the soil is very polluted. Also the PLI values for
the 19 sites were >1, which indicates deterioration of site quality.The
significant correlation between some of the heavy metals showed that
the pollution of soils by heavy metals in the studied territory was
directly due to human activities, particularly mining and smelting
industry. The variation of high pollution with Cu and some heavy
metals near the open mine and the surroundings of Chochkan active
tailing dam was due to the character of industrial activities, the
moving direction of airstreams as well as the physicochemical
peculiarities of the soils. It is necessary to state that this issue
becomes actual as the some parts of these highly polluted regions are
inhabited by population, and the agriculture is highly developed
there. Therefore heavy metals can enter human body through soil-
plant-human or soil-plant-animal-human chain causing various
diseases. Consequently - further investigation is highly necessary to
study the concentrations and health implications of these heavy
metals in residents of the Shamlugh town and the Chochkan village.
Keywords—Heavy metals, Soil pollution, Land degradation,
Mining and metallurgical industries.
I. INTRODUCTION
OILis a very specific and complicated component of
nature. In case of water and air pollution, if the toxic
substances are removed, they will easily return to their
original conditions. In case of soils, this process is much more
complicated. If the soil is polluted the centuries old balance is
upset and restoring that balance takes a very long time. Soils
are usually regarded as the ultimate sink for heavy metals
discharged into the environment [1], [2].
K. A. Ghazaryan is with the Department of Ecology and Nature
Protection, Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Republic of
Armenia (phone: 0037491342919; fax: 00374 10 554641; e-mail:
kghazaryan@ysu.am).
T. H. Derdzyan is with the Department of Ecological Chemistry, Faculty of
Chemistry, Yerevan State University, Republic of Armenia (e-mail:
derdzyan.t@gmail.com).
As a result of human economic activities, the environment
is polluted with industrial waste, wastewater, various
radioactive substances, chemicals / pesticides used in
agriculture, etc. One of the most considerable problems is the
pollution of environment with heavy metals.
Metal mining is an essential human activity to provide
rough materials for our society. Although the ore extraction
itself directly affects a relatively limited area of terrestrial
land, its impact on the environment, as well as on public
health, may be found at greater distances from the source and
for a long time period. Mining activities also influence
strongly the economic wealth of the area and act on its social
life. Both the environmental and socio-economic impact of the
mining are well documented in numerous areas worldwide,
nowadays [3]-[7].
The development of mining technology enabled the
progressive substitution in the 1950s of the old methods based
on underground exploitation by modern and profitable surface
extraction technologies. That is the reason that the volumes of
metal extracted were increased [8]. A similar process has
occurred also in our studied area and the closed mine working
not far from a city Shamlugh about 10-15 years ago was
replaced by a more profitable surface extraction technologies.
As a consequence of the long-lasting mining activities, the
mountainous landscapes in this area are strongly transformed:
numerous spoil piles and pits extend for many kilometers.
These mining wastes contain high amounts of heavy metals
such as lead, zinc, copper, or cadmium [9], [10]. The
preservation of most of these metals in the topsoil is explained
by their immobility, related by their chemical behavior and
environment characteristics.
The presence of heavy metals in soils makes a considerable
impact on the environment causing damages to microflora,
flora and fauna, and thus restricting soil use [11]-[16].
As a result of increasing anthropogenic activities, the heavy
metal pollution of soil, water, and atmosphere represents a
growing environmental problem affecting food quality and
human health. Heavy metals may enter the food chain as a
result of their uptake by edible plants, thus, the determination
of heavy metals in environmental samples is very important
[17]-[22].
Chronic intakes of heavy metals have damaging effects on
human beings and other animals [23]-[26]. For example, Cr,
Cu and Zn can cause non-carcinogenic hazardous such as
neurologic involvement, headache and liver disease, when
they exceed their safe threshold values [27]. It is known that
K. A. Ghazaryan, T. H. Derdzyan
Assessment of the Soils Pollution Level of the Open
Mine and Tailing Dump of the Surrounding Territories
of Akhtala Ore Processing Combine by Heavy Metals
S
International Science Index Vol: 8 No: 10 Part VI
720
copper is an essential element, but it may be toxic to both
human and animals when its concentration exceeds the safe
limits and its concentration in some human tissues such as
thyroid can be changed dependent on the tissue state providing
even cancerous or non-cancerous effects [23]. There is also
evidence that chronic exposure to low doses of cancer-causing
heavy metals may cause many types of cancer [22]-[24], [28].
Therefore, the research of the accumulation and migration
of the heavy metals in the soils is currently a very important
and relevant issue. The research results will strongly benefit
environment protection and future generations’ health. The
main objective of this study isthe assessment of the soils
pollution level of the open mine and tailing dump of the
surrounding territories of Akhtala ore processing combine by
heavy metals. Pollution indexes is a powerful tool for
processing, analyzing, and conveying raw environmental
information to decision makers, managers, technicians, and
the public [29], [30].
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Study Area
Akhtala ore processing combine is situated in the north-east
of Armenia (Lorimarz). The soils of two riskiest sites of this
region were studied (Fig. 1):
• surroundings of open mine near Shamlugh town (samples
№№ 1-16);
• surroundings of Chochkan active tailing dam (samples
№№ 17-19).
Fig. 1 The map of Armenia showing two sampling areas
The main soil type in the study sites was the mountain
cambisol with its subtypes:
1.
a) mountaincambisol, decalcified, with medium and
high capacity (samples №№ 1-8 and the control
sample),
b) mountaincambisol, decalcified, steppificated, with
weak capacity, weakly eroded (samples №№ 9-16);
2. mountaincambisol, calcareous, steppificated, with
medium capacity, weakly eroded (samples №№ 17-19).
In Armenia this soil type is distributed 500-1700 meters
above sea level, and on arid southern slopes, it reaches up to
2400 meters [31]. Decalcified mountain cambisol is the first
subtype with its two variations. Decalcified mountain
cambisol is distributed in comparatively high sites. This
subtype of soils in the studied territories is distributed 937-
1287 meters above sea level. Calcareous mountain cambisol is
the second subtype. This subtype of soils in the studied
territories is 705-783 meters above sea level. The reliefs of the
areas of the distribution of the two soil subtypes are rather
complex and disjointed, and the gradients of the slopes vary
from 30 to 410.
B. Sample Collection
For study implementation it has been selected 19 sampling
sites in 2013. The control section was done in the site which
was 2 km away from the open mine near Shamlugh town. The
coordinates of sampling sites were recorded by GPS.
The sampling of soils was carried out in a traditional way,
well-known in soil science. All labware and sampling
apparatus were pre-soaked in 5% nitric acid solution followed
by distilled water for a day prior to sampling for removing
trace concentrations of metals.
The samples of soils were taken from a depth of 0-20 cm at
5 m intervals on a grid measuring 20 m x 20 m and with the
center point of the grid at the sample location. The sections
were done manually. All samples were collected into
polyethylene sampling bottles and transported to the
laboratory. After homogenization and removal of unwanted
content (stones, plant material, etc.), the samples were air-
dried at room temperature, sieved to pass a 1 mm mesh and
stored in an all-glass jar for analysis of their properties.
C. Pretreatment and Heavy Metal Analysis of Soil Samples
Before analysis samples need required digestion (USEPA,
1996). Soil will further ground in a mortar and pestle to pass a
0.42 mm nylon mesh. Total concentration of heavy metals will
be determined using Aqua Regia (HCl-HNO3, 3:1) extraction
method. 3g of soil sample must be digested for 2h at 180°C.
Heavy metals will be determined by atomic absorption
spectrometry method (AAS) using Atomic-absorption
spectrometer PG990 (PG Instruments LTD).
D. Assessment of Metals Contaminations
The level of soils contaminations by heavy metals were
assessed by contamination indices. Contamination factors
(Cf), Degree of contamination (Cd), Pollution load index (PLI)
and Geoaccumulation index (I-geo) were used.
Cf and Cd were calculated as suggested by Håkanson
(1980) through these formulas:
Cfi= Csi /Cbi (1)
Cd = ΣCf (2)
where, Csi is the measured concentration of the
examinedmetal i in the soil sample and Cbi is the background
value of heavy metal i in the uncontaminated soil (control).
Håkanson suggested four classes of Cf to evaluate the metal
contamination levels as shown in Table I [32]. Four categories
of Cd as suggested were used to evaluate metal contamination
levels (Table I). If the Cd value exceeds 20, then it is
necessary to take immediate counter measures to reduce heavy
metal contamination in the soil.
Furthermore, each site was evaluated for the extent of metal
International Science Index Vol: 8 No: 10 Part VI
721
pollution by employing the method based on the pollution load
index (PLI) developed by Thomilsonet[33], as follows:
PLI= 123 …
(3)
where n is the number of metals studied and Cf is the
contamination factor calculated as described in (1). The PLI
provides simple but comparative means for assessing a site
quality. The rank of values of PLI and its implication is shown
in Table I [33].
Geo-accumulation index (I-geo) was used to calculate metal
contamination level in the soils. The geo-accumulation index
(I-geo) was originally defined by Müller in 1969, in order to
determine and define metal contamination in sediments, by
comparing current concentrations with pre-industrial levels.
The index is calculated as [34]:
I-geo = log2Csi / 1.5 Cbi (4)
whereCsi is the concentration of the element i in the samples,
Cbiis the background value of the element i, and the factor 1.5
is used to take into account the possible lithological
variability. The rank of values of I-geo and its implication is
shown in Table I.
TABLE I
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MODEL AND THE CATEGORIES FOR THE DESCRIPTION OF
SOIL CONTAMINATION
Model Class Description Sources
Contamination
Factor
Cf<1 Low Håkanson
(1980)
1<Cf<3 Moderate
3 <Cf< 6 Considerable
6 <Cf Very high
Degree of
Contamination
Cd<5 Low Håkanson
(1980)
5 <Cd<
10
Moderate
10 <Cd< 20 Considerable
20 <Cd Very high
Pollution level
Index
PLI< 1 Perfection Thomilsonet al.
(1980)
PLI = 1 Base line level of
pollution
PLI> 1 Deterioration of site
quality
Geo-
accumulation
index
I-geo< 0 Uncontaminated Müller(1969)
0 <I-geo<
1
Uncontaminated to
moderately contaminated
1 <I-geo<
2
Moderately
contaminated
2 <I-geo<
3
Moderately to strongly
contaminated
3 <I-geo<
4
Strongly contaminated
4 <I-geo<
5
Strongly to very strongly
contaminated
5 <I-geo Very strongly
contaminated
E. Statistical Analysis
Analysis of variance was used to compare the mean metal
concentrations among the sites. Further evaluation was done
via Duncan’s multiple range tests. The statistical analysis was
performed using SPSS software, version 15.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cd in the soils
surroundings of open mine near Shamlugh town and
Chochkan active tailing dam were determined, and the degree
of the heavy metal pollution in the soils was assessed. The
ranges of mean concentration (mg/kg) of the heavy metals in
the 2 study areas are Cu (18 – 113), Zn (400 – 800), Pb (3,4 –
11,0), Ni (15 – 37) and Co (10,8– 30,4) (Table II). Since the
contents of metals in soils are specific and depend on the
compound of rocks producing soil and the conditions of soil
formation, for determination of pollution level, the obtained
results were compared to the control sample which was
considered as a background.
TABLE II
THE MEAN CONCENTRATIONS (MG/KG) OF SOME HEAVY METALS IN THE
STUDIED SAMPLES OF SOIL
Sample
number
Cu Zn Pb Ni Co
01 53,0±5 600,0±150 4,2±1,2 17,0±5 18,5±8,7
02 55,0±7 800,0±100 3,4±0,9 15,0±6 21,6±11,9
03 60,0±4 400,0±50 5,7±1,8 17,0±3 14,8±5,8
04 35,0±3 600,0±100 4,6±1,7 20,0±7 14,8±6,7
05 18,0±3 500,0±100 6,9±2,4 30,0±14 18,8±8,7
06 50,0±9 500,0±50 4,5±1,9 18,0±11 14,8±4,3
07 51,0±5 450,0±50 5,3±2,2 20,0±8 16,1±6,4
08 25,0±4 400,0±100 9,0±3,8 30,0±12 18,8±8,2
09 52,0±14 400,0±50 6,0±2,7 18,0±8 14,8±6,3
10 85,1±18 600,0±150 9,2±2,9 19,0±5 16,5±5,7
11 62,0±9 550,0±100 8,0±4,1 16,0±6 15,6±3,4
12 90,0±17 650,0±150 11,0±4,2 20,0±6 17,2±8,1
13 100,0±35 600,0±50 10,0±2,7 15,0±7 21,6±7,1
14 105,0±24 650,0±200 8,8±3,9 18,0±11 22,5±7,6
15 113,0±18 600,0±150 9,0±2,2 22,0±10 10,8±4,0
16 100,0±22 700,0±150 8,1±1,8 18,0±9 30,4±12,9
17 65,0±15 600,0±100 4,6±2,1 33,0±17 17,2±6,8
18 70,0±9 650,0±150 5,2±1,8 37,0±14 18,4±6,1
19 59,0±10 580,0±70 4,4±1,6 28,0±16 15,9±5,8
Control 17,0±3 400,0±50 4,3±1,7 21,0±9 16,7±4,6
A. Contamination Evaluation Based On I-geo
Geo-accumulation index (I-geo) was used to calculate metal
contamination level in the soils (Table III). The geo-
accumulation index values for Cu shows that 10,5% of the
samples fall in the uncontaminated class (≤0), 10,5% in the
uncontaminated–moderately contaminated class (0-1), 68,4%
are moderately contaminated (1-2) and 10,5% are moderately
to strongly contaminated (2-3). I-geo values for Zn shows that
73,7% of the samples fall in the uncontaminated class (≤0) and
26,3% in the uncontaminated–moderately contaminated class
(0-1), for Pb shows that 52,6% of the samples fall in the
uncontaminated class (≤0) and 47,4% in the uncontaminated–
moderately contaminated class (0-1), for Ni shows that 89,5%
International Science Index Vol: 8 No: 10 Part VI
722
of the samples fall in the uncontaminated class (≤0) and 10,5%
in the uncontaminated–moderately contaminated class (0-1),
for Co shows that 94,7% of the samples fall in the
uncontaminated class (≤0) and 5,3% in the uncontaminated–
moderately contaminated class (0-1). The average I-geo for
the observed metals were in the de-creasing order of Cu (1,23)
>Pb (-0,02) > Zn (-0,10) > Co (-0,52) >Ni (-0,60). No I-geo
value was greater than 3 (i.e. strongly contaminated), and only
two values Cu (2,04) at № 14, and Cu (2,15) at № 15 are in
moderately to strongly contaminated class.
TABLE III
THE DEGREE OF THE HEAVY METAL POLLUTION OF THE SOIL SAMPLES
ACCORDING TO THE GEO-ACCUMULATION INDEX
Sample number Cu Zn Pb Ni Co
1 1,06 0,00 -0,62 -0,89 -0,44
2 1,11 0,42 -0,92 -1,07 -0,21
3 1,23 -0,58 -0,18 -0,89 -0,76
4 0,46 0,00 -0,49 -0,66 -0,76
5 -0,50 -0,26 0,10 -0,07 -0,41
6 0,97 -0,26 -0,52 -0,81 -0,76
7 1,00 -0,42 -0,28 -0,66 -0,64
8 -0,03 -0,58 0,48 -0,07 -0,41
9 1,03 -0,58 -0,10 -0,81 -0,76
10 1,74 0,00 0,51 -0,73 -0,60
11 1,28 -0,13 0,31 -0,98 -0,68
12 1,82 0,12 0,77 -0,66 -0,54
13 1,97 0,00 0,63 -1,07 -0,21
14 2,04 0,12 0,45 -0,81 -0,15
15 2,15 0,00 0,48 -0,52 -1,21
16 1,97 0,22 0,33 -0,81 0,28
17 1,35 0,00 -0,49 0,07 -0,54
18 1,46 0,12 -0,31 0,23 -0,45
19 1,21 -0,05 -0,55 -0,17 -0,66
B. Contamination Evaluation Based On Contamination
Factors (Cf)
The values obtained for contamination factor (Cf) for each
of the metal in their specific location is as shown in Fig. 2.
Almost in all soil samples (except 05 and 08) most high values
of Cf was observed in the case of Cu, and in two caseswere
observed alsovery high level of contamination: The Cf values
for Cu shows that 26,3% of the samples fall in themoderate
level of contamination (1<Cf<3), 63,2% in the considerable
level of contamination (3<Cf<6), 10,5% are very high level of
contamination (6<Cf). Cf values for Zn shows that 15,8% of
the samples fall in the lowlevel of contamination (Cf≤1) and
84,2% in the moderate level of contamination (1<Cf<3), for
Pb shows that 10,5% of the samples fall in the lowlevel of
contamination (Cf≤1) and 89,5% in the moderate level of
contamination (1<Cf<3), for Ni shows that 68,4% of the
samples fall in the lowlevel of contamination (Cf≤1) and
31,6% in the moderate level of contamination (1<Cf<3), for
Co shows that 47,4% of the samples fall in the lowlevel of
contamination (Cf≤1) and 52,6% in the moderate level of
contamination (1<Cf<3). The average Cf for the observed
metals were in the decreasing order of Cu (3,86) >Pb (1,57) >
Zn (1,43) > Co (1,07) >Ni (1,03).
Fig. 2 Values of contamination factor (Cf) of different metals in open
mine and tailing dump of surrounding territories of Akhtala ore
processing combine
C. Contamination Evaluation Based On Degree of
Contamination (Cd) and Pollution Load Index (PLI)
The values of the Degree of contamination (Cd) is
presented in Fig. 3. By Cd value reduction the 19 investigated
soil samples made the following series: 16 > 14 > 15 > 13 >
12 > 10 > 18 > 17 > 11 > 19 > 2 > 3 > 1 > 7 > 9 > 8 > 6 > 5 >
4. By Cd value the 68,4% of soil samplesfall in the moderate
level of contamination (5 <Cd< 10), 31,6% in the considerable
level of contamination (10 <Cd< 20).
Pollution severity and its variation along the sites were
determined with the use of Pollution load index. This index is
a quick tool in order to compare the pollution status of
different places [35]. The pollution load index is presented in
Fig. 3. The values of Pollution load index were found to be
generally high (PLI> 1) in all the studied stations. Most high
value of the Pollution load index was observed in №16 sample
(PLI = 1,98), and most low value – in №4 sample (PLI =
1,23).
Fig. 3 Degree of contamination (Cd) and Pollution load index (PLI)
in the open mine and tailing dump of surrounding territories of
Akhtala ore processing combine for metals
IV. CONCLUSION
The assessment of the soils metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Co)
from selected sites surroundings of open mine near Shamlugh
town and Chochkan active tailing dam was made in
comparison with control site. The distribution pattern of trace
metals in the soil profile according to I geo, Cf and Cd values
shows that the soil is very polluted. And also the PLI values
0.00
2.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
12.00
14.00
135791113151719
CF‐Co
CF‐Ni
CF‐Pb
CF‐Zn
CF‐Cu
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
Cd
PLI
International Science Index Vol: 8 No: 10 Part VI
723
for the 19 sites were >1, which indicates deterioration of site
quality.
The significant correlation between some of the heavy
metals showed that the pollution of soils by heavy metals in
the studied territory was directly due to human activities,
particularly mining and smelting industry. The variation of
high pollution with Cu and some heavy metals near the open
mine and the surroundings of Chochkan active tailing dam
was due to the character of industrial activities, the moving
direction of airstreams as well as the physicochemical
peculiarities of soils. It is necessary to mention also that the
comparatively low pollution of the northern and eastern
regions of the open mine may have been conditioned by the
well-developed forest biomasses of these regions and the high
location compared to the open mine, which are considered as
hindering factors for the movement of heavy metal containing
dust to these regions and vice versa, in the southern and
western regions of the open mine and the surroundings of the
tailing dam, where forest biomass density was lower, the
degree of the soil pollutionwith heavy metals was higher. It is
necessary to state that this issue becomes actual as the some
parts of these highly polluted regions are inhabited by
population, and agriculture is highly developed there,
therefore heavy metals can enter human body through soil-
plant-human or soil-plant-animal-human chain causing various
diseases.
Therefore, further investigation is highly necessary to study
the concentrations and health implications of these heavy
metals in residents of the Shamlugh town and the Chochkan
village.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported by the Young Scientists Support
Program and the National Foundation of Science and
Advanced Technologies, in the frames of research project №
YSSP-13-47.
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