Study of SoilPollutants inOmdurman IndustrialArea, Sudan, Using X-ray Fluorescence Technique

Abstract

In this work X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to evaluate the soil pollution with<br />heavy metals for twenty four surface soil samples (0–10 cm in depth) from various locations to cover the<br />industrial area in Omdurman city, Sudan. Concentrations of 10 elements Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Pb, Rb, Co, Cd and<br />As were determined. It was found that Cr, Cu and Cd concentrations for almost all studied sites are greater<br />than the normal values, while most the Ni, Zn, Co, As and Pb concentrations are lower than the normal values.<br />Some of the concentrations of As are greater than the normal values. The elemental concentrations were<br />compared with the normal values and other studies in different locations from the world. The correlation<br />between elements appears that pollution inside the investigated area results from different sources of<br />contamination present inside it. The results establish a database reference of radioactivity background levels<br />around this region.