Soil pollution is a highlighted concern of modern society, particularly in developing countries. The Drosh-Shishi valley, which is a hilly region near Afghanistan with a land area of around 15,000 km², is situated in the south of Chitral District (Pakistan) and has a population of approximately 450,000. Nowadays, this region is being explored for soil pollution, specifically heavy metals which pose a potential risk to human health. Therefore, our main goal was to investigate possible sources of heavy metals’ spread and to assess the content levels in soil and the associated risks for human. We collected 34 representative samples from transported sediments and 31 from agricultural crops. We analyzed the soil samples for the contents of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn using ICP-OES analyzers. These values were used to obtain the contamination factor (CF) and to estimate the potential health risk caused by heavy metals according to the USEPA dose–response model. Our results suggest that the heavy metal pollution has a geogenic source, but it is also aggregated by chemical fertilizers used in farming. Regarding levels, most of the metals except Pb showed contents above the permissible level, with CF values from moderate to high. Overall, Cu and Ni showed a significant total cancer risk (TCR > 1 × 10⁻⁴) in children. Therefore, we conclude that heavy metal pollution is causing a serious threat to humans in this area, and we recommend that authorities should make more efforts in monitoring the heavy metals content in soils to reduce potential health risks.

The issue of soil pollution has become a prominent concern especially in developing countries. The Drosh-Shishi Valley, a rug terrain near Afghanistan spanning approximately 15,000 square kilometers, is situated in the southern part of the Chitral District in North Pakistan and is inhabited by around 450,000 people. Presently, there is a growing exploration of ore minerals in this region, specifically contributing heavy metals that pose potential risks to human health. The primary objective of this study was to investigate potential sources of heavy metal dispersion from the exploration sites and the flash flood channels to assess the levels of these contaminants in soil, with a particular emphasis on the associated global health risks. We collected 34 representative samples from transported sediments and 31 from agricultural crops, analyzing them for the presence of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn using ICP-OES (Agilent, 5110,USA) analyzers. These values were then utilized to determine the contamination factor (CF) and estimate the potential health risks posed by heavy metals, employing the USEPA dose–response model. In terms of concentrations, most metals, with the exception of Pb, exceeded permissible levels, displaying CF values ranging from moderate to high. In a broader health context, Cu and Ni emerged as significant contributors to a total cancer risk (TCR > 1 × 10−4) in children. This study concludes that heavy metal contamination poses a serious threat to human well-being in the Drosh-Shishi Valley and District Chitral emphasizing the need of implementing strict policy by authorities in monitoring soil heavy metal content to mitigate potential health risks.