Environmental geochemical studies were carried out in and around Jajmau (Kanpur) and Unnao industrial areas (80 degrees 15'-80 degrees 34'E longitude and 26 degrees 24'-26 degrees 35'N latitude), of Uttar Pradesh to find out the extent of chemical pollution in soil due to industrial waste. Jajmau and Unnao are prominent centers for leather processing clusters of tannery industries (about 450) along the banks of river Ganga, besides other industries. Geologically the study area is beset with alluvium of Quaternary age consisting of older alluvium of middle to upper Pleistocene and newer alluvium of Holocene. The climate of the study area is semi-arid type. Fifty-three soil samples were collected from Jajmau and Unnao industrial areas from top 15 cm layer of the soil and were analyzed for heavy metals by using Philips MagiX PRO-PW 2440 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The data reveals that the soil in the area is significantly contaminated with heavy metals such as chromium varies from 161.8 to 6227.8 mg/kg (average of 2652.3 mg/kg), Ba varies from 44.1 to 780.9 mg/kg (average of 295.7 mg/kg), Cu varies from 1.7 to 126.1 mg/kg (average of 42.9 mg/kg), Pb varies from 10.1 to 67.8 mg/kg (average of 38.3 mg/kg), Sr varies from 46.6 to 150.6 mg/kg (average of 105.3 mg/kg), V varies from 1.3 to 208.6 mg/kg (average of 54.4 mg/kg) and Zn varies from 43.5 to 687.6 mg/kg (average of 159.9 mg/kg). Soil contamination was assessed on the basis of geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor and degree of contamination. Indiscriminate dumping of hazardous waste in the study area could be the main cause of the soil contamination, spreading by rainwater and wind. Distribution and correlation of heavy metals in soil along with possible remedial measures are discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.