Mapping of Heavy Metal Contamination Characteristics Using Ciaprg Methodology

Abstract

The aim of this study is to produce a digital contamination map which is interactively rectified with a database, projected and scaled. For this reason, a detailed investigation was conducted for an understanding of contamination dispersal characteristics in terms of the contribution of heavy metal concentrations, such as mg/kg of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in a city center. CIAPRG Methodology (Contribution Independent of Amount through Positional Recoding and Grading) has been developed and used for the first time in this study by the authors in order to constitute a map of total heavy metal contamination distribution characteristics. Heavy metals from fifteen soil sample points, which were situated at different locations in the study area, were collected for chemical analysis. Data obtained by the chemical analysis was inserted into CIAPRG methodology. The majority of total heavy metal contribution is shown to be based on Cu, Mn and Ni. The effects of the contribution to pollution values which were recoded and graded, can be shown in relation to buildings, independent of the quantity of pollutant within the context of CIAPRG methodology. The resulting map designated that the mid and south-western parts of the study area were more intensive than the other parts in terms of heavy metal contamination. The graded contaminator values for soil and roadside dust were together compared with graded values for soil graded contaminator values, and roadside dust graded contaminator values, separately, using independent sample t tests with the results being interpreted.