Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria

Some physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels in soil samples around metal scrap dumps at Abraka and Agbor vicinities of Delta State, Nigeria, were analysed in order to assess the effects of the dumps on the soils. Conventional analytical methods were employed for the determination of...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: OV Akpoveta, SA Osakwe, BE Okoh, BO Otuya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Joint Coordination Centre of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP) 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
Online Access:https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/view/63258
_version_ 1827296792632360960
author OV Akpoveta
SA Osakwe
BE Okoh
BO Otuya
author_facet OV Akpoveta
SA Osakwe
BE Okoh
BO Otuya
author_sort OV Akpoveta
collection DOAJ
description Some physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels in soil samples around metal scrap dumps at Abraka and Agbor vicinities of Delta State, Nigeria, were analysed in order to assess the effects of the dumps on the soils. Conventional analytical methods were employed for the determination of these physicochemical parameters while heavy metals in the soil samples where analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that the pH values in all the sites ranged from 7.01 to 7.99 indicating neutrality to slight alkalinity of the soils. The Total Organic Carbon values ranged from 0.38 to 0.54% indicating presence of some organic matter and some microbiological activities in the soil samples. The high conductivity values ranging from 165 to 201μs/cm indicated significant presence of some soluble inorganic salts in soils studied. For all the physicochemical values recorded, the soil samples at Agbor had slightly higher values than those of Abraka. The heavy metal levels for the soils in Abraka and Agbor respectively were (mgkg-1) 1.50 and 1.52 for Cd, 5.10 and 4.48 for Ni, 1431 and 1411 for Fe, 74.26 and 97.21 for Zn, 14.31 and 34.21 for Cu, 24.0 and 18 for Cr, 9.73 and 10.54 for Co, and then 12.24 and 14.47 for Pb. The levels were all higher than those recorded in the control sites. A consistent trend showing a decrease in the concentration of heavy metals was observed for soil samples at increased distances from the impact points for the two towns studied. Metal was observed for soil samples at increased distances from the impact point for the two towns studied. The results from the contamination index indicated a significant degree of soil contamination for Pd, Cd, Co, Cu and Zn in the soils studied showing a higher degree of contamination for these metals. These soils therefore constitute a major health risk to the local population. This study successfully related and attributed the presence of heavy metals with anomalous concentration in the soils to anthropogenic inputs from the metal scrap dumps. @JASEM. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. December, 2010, Vol. 14 (4) 57 - 60
first_indexed 2024-04-24T14:44:36Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1ec40fffb3db4e3c882bb1d88c576fc2
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2659-1502
2659-1499
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-24T14:44:36Z
publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Joint Coordination Centre of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP)
record_format Article
series Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
spelling doaj.art-1ec40fffb3db4e3c882bb1d88c576fc22024-04-02T19:56:39ZengJoint Coordination Centre of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP)Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management2659-15022659-14992011-01-0114410.4314/jasem.v14i4.63258Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, NigeriaOV AkpovetaSA OsakweBE OkohBO OtuyaSome physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels in soil samples around metal scrap dumps at Abraka and Agbor vicinities of Delta State, Nigeria, were analysed in order to assess the effects of the dumps on the soils. Conventional analytical methods were employed for the determination of these physicochemical parameters while heavy metals in the soil samples where analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that the pH values in all the sites ranged from 7.01 to 7.99 indicating neutrality to slight alkalinity of the soils. The Total Organic Carbon values ranged from 0.38 to 0.54% indicating presence of some organic matter and some microbiological activities in the soil samples. The high conductivity values ranging from 165 to 201μs/cm indicated significant presence of some soluble inorganic salts in soils studied. For all the physicochemical values recorded, the soil samples at Agbor had slightly higher values than those of Abraka. The heavy metal levels for the soils in Abraka and Agbor respectively were (mgkg-1) 1.50 and 1.52 for Cd, 5.10 and 4.48 for Ni, 1431 and 1411 for Fe, 74.26 and 97.21 for Zn, 14.31 and 34.21 for Cu, 24.0 and 18 for Cr, 9.73 and 10.54 for Co, and then 12.24 and 14.47 for Pb. The levels were all higher than those recorded in the control sites. A consistent trend showing a decrease in the concentration of heavy metals was observed for soil samples at increased distances from the impact points for the two towns studied. Metal was observed for soil samples at increased distances from the impact point for the two towns studied. The results from the contamination index indicated a significant degree of soil contamination for Pd, Cd, Co, Cu and Zn in the soils studied showing a higher degree of contamination for these metals. These soils therefore constitute a major health risk to the local population. This study successfully related and attributed the presence of heavy metals with anomalous concentration in the soils to anthropogenic inputs from the metal scrap dumps. @JASEM. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. December, 2010, Vol. 14 (4) 57 - 60https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/view/63258
spellingShingle OV Akpoveta
SA Osakwe
BE Okoh
BO Otuya
Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria
Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management
title Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria
title_full Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria
title_fullStr Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria
title_short Physicochemical Characteristics and Levels of Some Heavy Metals in Soils around Metal Scrap Dumps in Some Parts of Delta State, Nigeria
title_sort physicochemical characteristics and levels of some heavy metals in soils around metal scrap dumps in some parts of delta state nigeria
url https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/view/63258
work_keys_str_mv AT ovakpoveta physicochemicalcharacteristicsandlevelsofsomeheavymetalsinsoilsaroundmetalscrapdumpsinsomepartsofdeltastatenigeria
AT saosakwe physicochemicalcharacteristicsandlevelsofsomeheavymetalsinsoilsaroundmetalscrapdumpsinsomepartsofdeltastatenigeria
AT beokoh physicochemicalcharacteristicsandlevelsofsomeheavymetalsinsoilsaroundmetalscrapdumpsinsomepartsofdeltastatenigeria
AT bootuya physicochemicalcharacteristicsandlevelsofsomeheavymetalsinsoilsaroundmetalscrapdumpsinsomepartsofdeltastatenigeria