Inclusion of key soil parameters in the modified contamination factor (MCF) model as a tool for assessing heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of a Modified Contamination Factor (MCF) model to assess heavy metal (HM) pollution in rural, urban, and industrial agricultural soils of Haridwar, India. Traditional Contamination Factor (CF) indices, though widely employed, fail to consider intrinsic soil buffering capacity, potentially misrepresenting ecological risk. To address this limitation, an MCF model was developed by integrating soil pH, organic matter (OM; %), and cation exchange capacity (CEC; cmol/kg) through a principal component analysis (PCA)-derived weight assignment method. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for nine HMs (Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) along with key soil properties including pH, organic matter (OM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Results rev

SUBMITTER: Elbagory M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672713 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature