Heavy Metal Contamination in Soil of Industrial Area, Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, India

Heavy metals and trace elements are also a matter of concern due to their non biodegradable nature and long biological half-lives [1]. Soil pollution due to heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, chromium, copper, andiron is a problem of concern. Although heavy metals are naturally present in soil, contamination comes from local sources: mostly industry, agriculture, waste incineration, combustion of fossil fuels, and road traffic. The most important sources of heavy metals in soil are the anthropogenic activities such as mining, smelting procedures, steel & iron industry, chemical industry, traffic, and agriculture as well as domestic activities [2–11]. Soil is a dynamic medium made up of many minerals, organic matter, water, air, living creatures including bacteria and earthworms. It was formed by changing due to physical factors; the parent material, time, the climate and organisms present in composition. Generally polluted water also pollutes soil as it percolate in it. Solid waste is a mixture of plastics, cloth, glass, metal and organic matter, sewage, sewage sludge, building debris, generated from households, commercial and industries establishments add to soil pollution. Fly ash, iron & steel slag, medical & industrial wastes disposed on land are important sources of soil pollution. Chemical and metallurgical industries are the most important sources of heavy metals in soil [12–14]. The problem of soil pollution due to toxic metals has begun to cause concern now inmost of the major cities. Soil pollution in the environment with toxic metals has increased dramatically since the onset of the industrial revolution [15-16]. Heavy metals in soil plays important role in biological system but it can cause harm if it in higher concentration in any system of environment. Therefore concentration of Contamination Index (CI), Pollution Load Index (PLI) w.r.t. heavy metals in Dewas Industrial area in Madhya Pradesh, India is important.