Geochemical background in contamination soils of ATTP with lead and zinc (Tashkent region, Uzbekistan)

Abstract

Angren Thermal Power Plant, the second of the major thermal power plants (ATPP) in Uzbekistan running on coal, has capacity to generate 2100 MW (per year) electricity. This is an enterprise of hazard class 1, which was set in operation in 1957-1963. Coal (lignite) and natural gas are the major fuel types for the station. The eight soil samples were collected from a depth about 0–30 cm in the close vicinity of the ATPP from random points and at different distances. The samples were analyzed using AAS for heavy metals. Heavy metal contents in soils around ATPP varied from 4.8 to 58.6 mg/kg for Pb, and 14.5 to 249.5 mg/kg for Zn. Geo accumulation index (Igeo) has been calculated in order to evaluate heavy metal pollution in the soils in this article. According to the geoaccumulation index (I_geo) the results were analyzed and discussed in detailed.