ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment of Soil Contamination by Heavy
Metals: A Case of Vegetable Production Center
in Banjarbaru Region, Indonesia
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Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat,
Jalan A. Yani Km. 36 Kota Banjarbaru, Kalimantan Selatan 7071
Submission date: 2022-03-05
Final revision date: 2022-08-02
Acceptance date: 2022-08-29
Online publication date: 2022-11-03
Publication date: 2022-12-21
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(1):249-257
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ABSTRACT
Landasan Ulin is a center for vegetable production, and it has an important role in producing
vegetables for the city of Banjarbaru. Agricultural soil in this study was assessed for heavy metal
contamination using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (Cfi), the degree of
contamination (Cd), the degree of modified contamination (mCd), and the Pollution Load Index (PLI)
as well as magnetic susceptibility. Samples were collected from topsoil and analyzed using magnetic
susceptibility and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The average concentration of heavy
metals in the sampling area A is Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Hg, and the area B is Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Hg. Magnetic
susceptibility values in area A is higher than in area B and the value of magnetic susceptibility can
be used as a proxy for monitoring heavy metal concentrations, especially Zn in this area. Zn and Cu
exceeded the threshold set by the Indonesian Standards Institute. Igeo results show that the research
area is moderately contaminated with Cu, Zn, and Hg. According to Cfi, the soil was classified as low
contaminated with Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Hg, as well as Cd and mCd. The PLI results show that in both
area, drastic corrective action is not required.