Assessment of Cadmium, Copper, and Lead Contamination in Agricultural Soils of Malakand Division, Pakistan | [1st International Conference on "Recent Advances in Green Biotechnology and Climate Resilience", September 15-16, 2025 • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Majeed Ullah: Department of Environmental Sciences,SBBU, Sheringal, Dir (U), KP,Pakistan

2. Ilham Bari: Department of Environmental Sciences,SBBU, Sheringal, Dir (U), KP,Pakistan

3. Usman Uddin: Department of Environmental Sciences,SBBU, Sheringal, Dir (U), KP,Pakistan

4. Tariq Ullah: Department of Environmental Sciences,SBBU, Sheringal, Dir (U), KP,Pakistan

5. Iftikhar Ullah: Department of Environmental Sciences,SBBU, Sheringal, Dir (U), KP,Pakistan

6. Riffat Aziz: Department of Environmental Sciences,SBBU, Sheringal, Dir (U), KP,Pakistan

Abstract:

Agricultural soil contamination by heavy metals poses a significant threat to food security, ecosystem health, and human safety. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the contamination levels of cadmium (Cd), copper(Cu), and lead (Pb) in the agricultural sector of Malak and Division, KP ,Pakistan. Soil samples were systematically collected from cereal, paddy, and orchard fields across three districts: Swat (Landaki), Lower Dir (Chakdara), and Malakand (Batkhela). The samples were acid-digested (HNO3-HClO4) and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) for heavy metal quantification, alongside potentiometric pH and Walkley-Black organic matter(%OM) analysis. The results revealed neutral to slightly alkaline soils (pH 7.22-7.67) with %OM ranging from 0.47% to 1.45%. Critically, the analysis identified severe contamination for Cd and Pb, with concentrations frequently exceeding national and international safety guidelines. A cereal sample from Swat district showed an extreme Cd concentration of 15.58 mg/kg, vastly surpassing the FAO/WHO (0.3 mg/kg) and Pakistani (0.5 mg/kg) limits. While Cu levels remained within safe limits (FAO/WHO: 100 mg/kg), Pb exceeded the Pakistani permissible limit (50 mg/kg) in several instances. A comparative spatial analysis indicated that Swat district was the most contaminated, exhibiting the highest levels of Cd and Pb, thereby representing the greatest potential risk to agricultural sustainability and public health in the region.

Page(s): 159-159

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: 1st International Conference on "Recent Advances in Green Biotechnology and Climate Resilience", September 15-16, 2025, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2025

Keywords:

Heavy metals , health risk assessment , Soil contamination

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