The application of magnetic susceptibility measurement and heavy metal analysis to assess soil pollution in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, India with a statistical approach

This research work presents a study on the application of magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal for assessing pollution in the soil samples collected from Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. Heavy metal contents were determined using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) method. The pollution load index indicated that study area is free from the pollution. The magnetic susceptibility (χ) of the collected soil samples was measured at both low and high frequency (χlf and χhf) using the Bartington MS2 dual frequency meter and which was further used to calculate the frequency dependent susceptibility (χfd). The frequency dependent susceptibility (χfd) low mean value indicated that the magnetic properties of the samples are predominately contributed by multi-domain grains, rather than by super paramagnetic particles. Multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to determine the influence on magnetic susceptibilities with heavy metals and to detect soil contamination from anthropogenic or natural sources. The statistical analysis revealed heavy metals in the soil is positively correlated with the magnetic parameters, indicating an interconnection and also is evidence for the accumulation of heavy metals through anthropogenic activities. The study revealed that magnetic susceptibility measurements can be used as a proxy and fastest method of determining heavy metal pollution in soils.