title: Pollution Assessment of Toxic and Potentially Toxic Elements in Agricultural Soils of the City Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
abstract: Due to the significantly fast urban expansion and increased industrial activities, the soils in the farms in Addis Ababa are contaminated by some toxic and potentially toxic elements (As, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, B, Ba, Sr, Zn, Mn, Pb and Cd) in varying degrees. The mean concentrations of Cr, Ni, As and B in most of the soil farms were found to be higher than the maximum recommended limits. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Co, Ni and Mn were found to be higher than the background soil concentrations given for uncontaminated soils. Multivariate analyses coupled with correlation analysis were used to identify possible sources. The geo-accumulation index values for Cr, Mn and Pb indicated that the farm soils were unpolluted to moderately polluted as a result of anthropogenic activities. A comprehensive environmental management strategy should be formulated by the government to measure further pollution of the farmland soil.
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. minsinas@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Minbale
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aschale
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yilma
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sileshi
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kelly-Quinn
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Dereje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hailu
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005002:Ethiopia; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Contamination; Geoaccumulation index; Multivariate analysis; Toxic elements