Heavy metal contamination of soil and water due to chromite mining in Tehsil Khanozai, District Pishin, Balochistan, Pakistan

Heavy metals are not a biodegradable element, so they are on the rise due to widespread anthropogenic effects. The depletion of heavy metals and unsustainable assets increase the natural cost of mining. The current research was conducted in Khanozai District during the 2018 and 2019. The environmental and communal effects of both surface and underground mining were studied to determine heavy metals in water and soil samples. The heavy metal such as iron, copper, manganese, chromium and lead were examined through using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results show that the lead, manganese, chromium and iron content in the water has been found to exceed the WHO recommended limit while the copper values have been recorded below. Normal salinity and pH were recorded for all water samples, while electrical conductivity was reported for all water samples within WHO limits. For all soil samples pH and salinity were recorded lower while the values of electricity conductivity were fluctuated. The results demonstrate that Khanozai is highly contaminated by heavy metal due to extensive activities of mining. published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES