ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIALLY TOXIC TRACE ELEMENTS IN THE SURFACE SOILS OF DONG NAI PROVINCE USING NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS

Tóm tắt

This study aimed to investigate the levels of contamination of potentially toxic trace elements in the soil of Dong Nai Province, Vietnam. To achieve this, the Instrument Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) method was employed to measure the concentrations of five potentially toxic trace elements, including manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), antimony (Sb), and zinc (Zn), across 30 soil samples collected from the region. After that, the Geo Accumulation Index (Igeo) and enrichment factors (EF) were utilized to evaluate the existence of anthropogenic contaminants and the intensity of their deposition on surface soil. The results of the Igeo revealed varying levels of contamination for each of the elements investigated, with Sb showing the highest levels of contamination, followed by Zn, Cr, As, and Mn. The EF analysis also demonstrated that the mean enrichment factor value was highest for Sb, followed by As, Zn, Cr, and Mn. The results of this study provide important baseline data for future research on soil pollution in Dong Nai Province and other rapidly industrializing regions. It is hoped that the findings will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers and environmental managers seeking to mitigate the risks associated with soil contamination and promote sustainable land use practices.