Migration of heavy metals in soils by evaporation

Abstract

The heavy metals behave differently in the soil depending on soil type, composition and also on the environment surrounding the soil. In the arid and semiarid environments, evaporation has predominance on precipitation. Heavy metals may accumulate in the soil, due to anthropogenic activities causing contamination of the soils. These heavy metals may migrate upward, with the evaporating soil pore water in different forms, reaching the top soil and the surface. The heavy metals at the soil surface may cause health hazard, to the people contacting the soil even in low concentration. Because the heavy metals could be bonded on the surface of the clay particles and fly away with the wind as dust particles, which can be inhaled by people.