PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CONDITIONS OF SOIL OF AN AGRICULTURE FIELD CONTAMINATED BY THE WASTE OF TIRE PYROLYSIS PLANT AT SITAKUNDA, CHATTOGRAM, BANGLADESH

Abstract

Furnace oil is being manufactured from waste tires by a tire pyrolysis plant in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The industrial
gases and effluents are being discharged directly into the hills and nearby areas which may pollute adjacent homelands
and agricultural fields. This study was conducted to examine the impacts of flue gas and faulty effluent treatment on
adjacent agricultural lands from the industry. A total of 15 soil samples were collected from the adjacent agriculture
field at 200m, 250m, 300m, 350m and 400m distances from the industry. Temperature, pH, EC, organic C, available
S, available P, available N, Ca, Mg, K and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Cr) were analyzed. Heavy metals were analyzed
using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. Results of physico-chemical properties of agricultural soil
revealed that the concentration level of sulfur was high in nearby lands and decreased gradually with increasing 50-
meter interval distance from the industry. High amount of available sulfur (43.31 ± 21.59 mg/kg) and organic carbon
(3.32 ± 0.51 %) were found which may be an indication of contamination from the industry according to SRDI (2020)
standard. The electrical conductivity was alarmingly low and a neutral pH was observed overall. The heavy metals
were recorded in the field with highest cadmium 1.06 ± 0.03 mg/kg, highest chromium 71.85 ± 3.71 mg/kg and
highest copper 40.15 ± 3.26 mg/kg. Cadmium concentration level exceeds the permissible limit of WHO (2001),
USEPA (2002) and CHINA (2012) while chromium concentration exceeds WHO (2001) and USEPA (2002) limit;
the concentrations were decreased with increasing distances from the industry. In 250-meter and 350-meter distant
areas from the industry, slightly increased copper was noted. The ANOVA test revealed a significant variation in the
concentrations of phosphorus, calcium, and all heavy metals, indicating a notable change with increasing 50-meter
interval distances from the industry. The results of the study indicate that the agriculture field is being contaminated
by the industry. The flue gas emission and effluents discharge should be controlled to avoid the contamination.