The Effects Of The Dust Emitted From Kaser Ahmed- Misurata Iron And Still Factory In Libya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on soil of Iron and still dust emitted the area around iron and still Kaser Ahmed- Misurata factory. Genera of fungi which are present in soil microflora in the area contaminated by this factory were investigated, as well as pH, water content, and heavy metals content in the polluted soil, comparing the findings with those for soil samples taken from an unpolluted area.

Soil samples were collected from iron and still  factory, Kaser Ahmed - Misurata Libya . These samples were collected from four different sites A (inside the factory), B (50 m from the factory), C (100 m from the factory) D (150 m from the factory). Some physiochemical characteristics were determined, soil metals content (Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Cu, Al, Ca and Fe) and fungal contents. Results compared to soil analysis results from unpolluted area. The obtained results discovered that all soil samples were sandy in texture, mildly alkaline in reaction and containing low amount of organic matter which ranged between 1.11– 1.61 g. Soil water content ranged from 1.2% to 4.8%.   Total soluble salts ranged from 252.3 to 1225.3 ppm and soil pH ranged between 8.3-9.0 and showed no appreciable differences within localities. Soil samples differ in their mineral content. Most tested localities contained high amounts of  Pb, Cd, Mn and  Al compared to unpolluted samples. The all tested metals recorded high amount in samples collected from inside the factory.  Isolated microbial flora consists of 5 fungal genera belonging to, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rizopus, Alternaria and Fusarium. The latter may consider one of the resistance fungi to industrial dusts due to its large colonies numbers isolated from polluted area.