Background: Nature of heavy metals in chemical compounds and their solubility in soil is so important in the transition of these hazardous materials into plants and water resources and such compounds pose a serious threat to human health. This study was carried out to evaluate the stabilization and solubility of Pb, Cd and Zn in contaminated soil using different chemical compounds.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 36 soil samples were collected randomly from the industrial areas of Amol (Iran). Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Zn in samples were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Moreover, solubility and removal of the heavy metals were investigated using potassium chloride, ammonium phosphate, ammonium acetate and DTPA.

Results: Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Zn in soil samples were 206±59.8, 11.6±1.8 and 1148±465mg/kg, respectively. The mean solubility concentrations for Pb, Cd and Zn with ammonium phosphate, DTPA, ammonium acetate and distilled water (control) were 11, 1.5 114.5 191, 7.1, 648.5 115, 6.2, 476 and 17, 3.4, 193, respectively.

Conclusion: Ammonium phosphate plays an important role in the stabilization and DTPA and ammonium acetate in the solubility and removal of heavy metals in soil. Therefore, ammonium phosphate application can be useful to prevent heavy metal contamination of the underground water resources.