Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2026 Mar 6. doi: 10.1007/s11356-026-37536-y. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Soil contamination with heavy metals remains a major environmental concern in post-conflict Mosul City, posing risks to agriculture, ecosystems, and human health. This study investigated seasonal and interannual variations in cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni), along with key soil properties (pH, electrical conductivity, and salinity), across urban soils during 2022-2023 by applying multivariate statistics and ArcGIS-based spatial analysis. Severe contamination was identified in 39.47% of the study area (S3, S4, and S7), while high contamination affected an additional 40.09% (S6 and S8); the remaining 20.43% (S1, S2, and S5) showed moderate contamination. Soil pH remained relatively stable, whereas electrical conductivity, salinity, and heavy metals particularly Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni exhibited higher variability. Strong inter-metal correlations and principal component analysis indicated dominant anthropogenic influences, with heavy metals forming one principal component and EC-salinity another. Seasonal variations were evident in 2022, most likely associated with rainfall-driven leaching, but were negligible in 2023 under drier conditions. Spatial patterns reflected the combined influence of soil properties, climatic conditions, and human activities. These findings highlight the persistence of soil contamination in post-conflict Mosul and underscore the need for immediate remediation in high-risk zones, continued monitoring in moderately contaminated areas, and adaptive land management practices to reduce environmental and health risks. The integrated multivariate-spatial framework offers a transferable approach for assessing soil contamination in conflict-affected urban environments.
PMID:41790348 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-026-37536-y
