Analysis of Soil of Fazilka District, Punjab, India for Heavy Metal Contamination

Over the last few decades, study of heavy metal contamination in environment has gained huge importance due to its health related hazards. In the present work, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer has been used to estimate concentration of certain heavy elements (As, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cd and Hg) in the soils of 20 villages of Fazilka district, Punjab, India. Concentrations of As, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd are below the safe limits suggested by ICRCL (Interdepartmental Committee for the Redevelopment of Contaminated Land) while concentration of Hg is below the detection limit of the instrument. Anthropogenic activities like industrial waste, improper sewage disposal and vehicle exhausts are the most likely reasons for elevated values at some locations. There seems to be no threat to the inhabitants of the area as far as heavy metal contamination in soil is concerned.