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Spatial Distribution of Mercury in the Surface Soils of the Urban Areas, Arak, Iran

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Abstract

This study assessed the baseline concentrations and spatial distribution of total mercury (Hg) in urban soils of the city of Arak, Iran. Concentrations of Hg were determined in soil collected from urban areas, and the spatial distribution was analyzed using the semivariogram approach in geostatistical technology. Mercury in soil ranged from 66.3 to 581 µg/kg. The experimental variogram of soil mercury concentrations was best-fitted by a spherical model. A spatial distribution map revealed that Hg concentration showed decreasing trends from south to north, west to east and center to suburb. Overall, the results showed that Hg concentrations in urban soils of Arak may be considered medium or low.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding provided for this study by the Tarbiat Modares University of Iran. Also the authors are grateful to Dr M. Solgi (Head of Department of Horticulture at Arak University) for his support and assistance in this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Malayer University, P.O. Box 65719-95863, Malayer, Hamedan, Iran

    Eisa Solgi

  2. Department of Environment, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Science, Tarbiat Modares University, P.O. Box 46414-356, Noor, Mazandaran, Iran

    Abbas Esmaili-Sari & Alireza Riyahi-Bakhtiari

Authors
  1. Eisa Solgi
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  2. Abbas Esmaili-Sari
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  3. Alireza Riyahi-Bakhtiari
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Correspondence to Eisa Solgi.

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Solgi, E., Esmaili-Sari, A. & Riyahi-Bakhtiari, A. Spatial Distribution of Mercury in the Surface Soils of the Urban Areas, Arak, Iran. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 93, 710–715 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1408-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1408-1

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