Assessment of Toxic Metals and Anionic Surfactants in Agricultural Soils, Crocodile River Catchment Soil Toxic Metals & Surfactants in Crocodile River
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Abstract
Rapid industrialisation, mining, agriculture, and urbanisation have contributed to increasing levels of toxic metals and surfactants in soils, raising concerns about environmental and human health risks. Agricultural soils, particularly in developing regions, are highly vulnerable to such contamination due to irrigation with polluted water and effluent discharges. This study aimed to assess the levels of potentially toxic metals and anionic surfactants in agricultural soils around the Roodeplaat and Hartbeespoort Dams in the Crocodile River (West) Catchment, South Africa.
Soil and water samples were collected from four agricultural sites and three control sites between June 2019 and March 2020. Toxic metals were quantified using ICP-MS and ICP-AES after aqua regia digestion, while anionic surfactants were determined using the methylene blue active substances (MBAS) assay. Data were analysed using the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Pearson correlation, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results showed that metals such as Cr, Fe, As, Pb, and Ni exceeded regulatory thresholds, with Igeo values indicating moderate to heavy contamination from anthropogenic sources. Anionic surfactants were present in all agricultural soils but showed no significant correlation with metals. PCA differentiated contamination patterns between the two sites, highlighting the influence of mining, industrial, and agricultural activities. The study concludes that irrigation with contaminated dam water has significantly degraded soil quality, potentially affecting crop safety and ecosystem health. Future research should assess toxic metal accumulation in cultivated crops to evaluate food chain risks.
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