| Summary: | Forty-nine soil samples known to be contaminated with heavy metals were analyzed for their distribution, and the physico-chemical parameters that affect their concentrations in the respective areas. The sampling areas include the Matang, Kota Samarahan, Bau and Kota Padawan areas and the Kuap River. The Kuap River, Matang and Samarahan samples were highly contaminated with heavy
metals including Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, As and Ag. Chemical analysis showed that the Bau soil was highly polluted with arsenic and mercury. The concentrations of heavy
metals are influenced by different factors. Correlation studies showed that most of the heavy metals have significant relationships with soil pH and organic matter
content, but, not with organic carbon and CEC content except for As and Hg. Soil chemical speciation showed that Hg, Cu, Ag and Pb were present in stable forms and
were not available to plant and other organism for a reasonable period.
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