Abstract

The research investigated the concentration of some heavy metals in a soil sample from the Bahir Dar textile industry by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS). The results obtained from the present study showed that the overall concentration of seven heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Zn, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Cu) in the range of 65.60-132.3, 10.783-18.967, 174.467-220.267, 3119.366-3147.933, 105.466-234.50, 656.40-709.667 and 55.6-80.6 (mg/Kg) in the soil samples respectively. In general, the levels of metals in soil samples collected from all the sampling sites were found to decrease in the order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Pb>Cr>Cu>Cd. Some of the concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu) in studied soil samples found below the maximum limit that proposed for agricultural soil by FAO/WHO and some of the heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb) that the concentrations were found above the maximum limit. Results of heavy metal concentrations in the soil samples under-investigated indicate that industrial activities most important sources for some heavy metals in the soil samples of the Bair Dar textile industry

Keywords: Contaminated soil; Heavy metals; FAAS; Textile Industry