A Comprehensive Review of the Role of Humic Substances in Reducing Soil Pollution in Baghdad City Using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

rawnaq younis; Rana J. Kadhim; Haider I. Alrubaay

doi:10.71229/cb49vm55

Authors

Rawnaq Y. Rasheed Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Technology – Iraq.
Rana J. Kadhim Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Technology – Iraq
Haider I. Alrubaay Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Technology – Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71229/cb49vm55

Keywords:

Heavy metals, Humic substances, ANN-GIS integration

Abstract

The pollution of soil with heavy metals is a critical environmental problem in the rapidly urbanizing areas, which results from industrial use, traffic emissions, agricultural activities, and improper disposal of waste. The potential of accumulation of potentially toxic elements in the soil is a major concern in the environmental quality and public health in the city of Baghdad. Humic substances (HS), which are identified as humic acid, fulvic acid and humin, have a significant role in the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in soil solutions and soil colloids and are involved in complex physicochemical interactions. They have been valuable for sustainable soil pollution management because of their natural capacity for remediation.

This review appraises the potential of humic substances in reducing the toxicity and hazards of heavy metals and highlights the mechanisms by which humic substances immobilize and transform heavy metal pollutants to minimize the ecological risks and enhance soil quality. It also analyzes the complementary use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in environmental assessment. ANN can successfully model the relationship between different soil properties, the humic substance fractions and the concentration of heavy metals, and GIS can be used to visualize and analyze the spatial patterns of contamination.

Humic substances coupled with ANN and GIS give an efficient tool for predicting soil pollution, locating contamination hotspots and assisting environmental monitoring and decision making. This integrated strategy plays a crucial role in achieving sustainable soil remediation and urban environmental management, providing action-oriented solutions to enhance soil quality and safeguard ecosystems in Baghdad City.

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