Levels of Essential and Nonessential Metals in Flower Farm and Roadside Soils of Holeta, Ethiopia, Determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

Heavy metals, a group of trace elements naturally present in the Earth’s crust in forms, such as oxides, carbonates, and sulfides, are known for their potential long‐term adverse effects on human health and the environment. This study aimed to quantify the concentrations of selected heavy metals in soils from flower farms and adjacent roadside areas using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS). The analyzed metals included Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb, Fe, Mg, and Ca. Soil samples were collected from a flower cultivation site and nearby roadside soils in Holeta, Ethiopia. After appropriate sample preparation, 0.5 g of dried and powdered soil was digested using 3 mL of nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and 1 mL of hydrochloric acid (HCl) at 240°C for 2 h and 45 min. The concentrations of the selected metals were then measured using FAAS. The findings revealed that soils from both sampling sites contained notably high concentrations of iron and magnesium. Zinc levels were comparatively higher in the flower farm soils than in the roadside soils. The average metal concentrations (mg/kg, dry weight basis) in both areas followed the order Fe (8807–9128) > Mg (1023–1119) > Mn (399–964) > Ca (60–118) > Zn (96.1–150.5) > Cr (34–48.54) > Cu (30.5–35.6) > Ni (21–33.43).