An Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Roadside Dust: A Case Study from Basrah Governorate, Southern Iraq

This study assessed the extent and sources of heavy metal contamination in Roadside dust across Basrah Governorate, a major hub for petroleum production in southern Iraq. Samples were collected from six strategic industrial and urban locations. Concentrations of nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) were quantified, and pollution was evaluated using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and contamination factor (CF). Results indicate exceptionally high cadmium (Cd) contamination at the Al-Shuaiba industrial site (Igeo = 5.49; CF = 67.93), identifying it as a significant pollution hotspot. A distinct urban pollution pattern was also observed, with elevated lead (Pb) concentrations at the high-traffic Sa'ad Square site (Igeo = 2.22). Source apportionment via Pearson correlation supported these findings, revealing a strong, statistically significant positive correlation among Ni, Cd, and Cr (p < 0.005), suggesting a common industrial origin. Conversely, Pb showed no significant correlation with the other metals, corroborating its primary association with vehicular emissions. Notably, Ni contamination was minimal, and Cr levels remained consistently low, suggesting their lesser contribution to the overall pollution load in the studied area. In conclusion, this study identifies a dual-front environmental challenge in Basrah, necessitating the implementation of source-specific remediation and management strategies targeting both severe industrial cadmium emissions and widespread urban lead pollution.