Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination Using Pollution Index, Geo-Accumulation Index, and Potential Ecological Risk Index in Agricultural Soil – A Case Study in the Coastal Area of Doukkala (Morocco)

Studies assessing the environmental risks related with metal pollution of agricultural soils are lacking in the coastal area of Doukkala, with is one of Morocco’s most agricultural regions. To overcome the shortcomings of such studies, trace element (As, Cd, Pb, and Zn) analyses were carried out at four sampling points in the agricultural surface soils, a total of sixty-six surface soil samples were raised with an auger at a depth of (0–20 cm) from the study area. This study examined the classification and levels of heavy metals in agricultural soil and applied the pollution score and the ecological risk index to the Doukkala coastal area (Morocco). This study used pollution indicators, a geo-accumulation index, and potential ecological risk indices to examine into the distribution and quantities of heavy metals in agricultural soils in the coastal region of Doukkala (Morocco). This study will provide significant information for policy makers and environmental specialists to quantify soil contamination in the coastal area of Doukkala (Morocco).