Spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in urban soils of Abbottabad city, (N Pakistan): evaluation for potential risk

•Soil results showed relatively higher contamination for iron and lower for cadmium.•Pollution load index values surpassed the threshold of 1 in 40% of sampling sites.•Health index values were found 1.48E-02 for adults and 1.18E-02 for children.•Cancer risk values were found 9.39E-09 for adults and 2.03E-04 for children.•Statistical and geo-spatial analyses indicated both natural and anthropogenic inputs.