Accumulation of Heavy Metal in the Seeds of Zea mays L. from Crude Oil Impacted Soils in Kom-Kom, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed and modelled the accumulation of heavy metals in the seeds of Zea mays L. (maize) planted in a crude oil impacted soil. A total of thirteen soil samples were randomly collected. Five samples each were obtained from plot A (PA)and plot B (PB); the crude oil impacted plots. Three samples were obtained from plot C (PC); the control plot which was about 200 m away from the spill impacted area. All samples were analysed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) and Heavy Metals [iron (Fe), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and vanadium (V)]. Maize was planted on each of the thirteen plots and the seeds upon harvest was analysed for heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cr and V). The seed accumulation factors for each heavy metal was modelled using TPH as the independent variable. Aside the Zn regression model with R2 value of 0.399, other models performed well with R2 values of 0.994, 0.942, 0.974 and 0.964 for Fe, Pb, Cr and V respectively. TPH was able to model the seed parameters with relatively high model performance except for Zinc. This suggests that accumulation of some heavy metals in the seed of the Zea mays L. planted is dependent on TPH. These models can be useful in predicting accumulation of heavy metals in the seeds of Maize planted in a crude oil polluted soil.

Status of Soil Quality in the Vicinity of Artisanal Refining Sites in Rivers State, Nigeria

“…The macronutrients concentration in both the study and Control areas are inherently low compared to acceptable ranges of 15,000, 2,000 and 10,000 mg/kg for N, P, and K respectively [25] recommended for agricultural soils. This is in conformity with the report of Onyejekwe et al [36]. Nutrients are usually available for plants use in the soil in different forms.…”

Physico-chemical Alterations and Hydrocarbon Characteristics of Kom-Kom Oil Spill Soils

“…The area carries the Trans-Delta Bonny Light Line of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). Kom-Kom is a small settlement with farmers and traders [23]. The soil type is loamy and the area carries various food crops including maize (Zea mays), waterleaf (Talinum fruticosum) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) [23].…”

“…Ten (10) soil samples were randomly obtained from two plots (PA and PB) around the spill point and three (3) soil samples collected from an area about 200 meters away from the spill point as the control (PC). They were collected using hand auger at 30 cm depth and taken immediately to the laboratory for analyses [23]. The Physico-chemical parameters; pH was analysed with a pH meter, electrical conductivity was done with a conductivity meter, nitrate and phosphate was analysed with a spectrophotometer and potassium was analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS).…”

“…Studies on petroleum hydrocarbon and heavy metals in the Niger Delta environment have been carried out and reported by several researchers [13,17,18,19,20,21,22,23]. Heavy metals have serious adverse effects on environment and human health most of which are observed after long exposure [24].…”

Evaluating the simulated toxicities of metal mixtures and hydrocarbons using the alkane degrading bioreporter Acinetobacter baylyi ADPWH_recA

“…The metabolism of hydrocarbons in oil leads to the release of radicals and reactive oxygen species that can damage the cellular structure of micro-and macro-organisms, thereby affecting ecological systems (Patrick-Iw et al, 2011;Ebokaiwe et al, 2013). The coexistence of heavy metal and alkane in soils can turn productive fields into wastelands (Onyejekwe et al, 2019), in waters it results in oxygen depletion, destroying biochemical interactions (Besser et al, 2009) and it increases the input of heavy metals in sediments (Zhang et al, 2020). Furthermore, the long-term exposure to crude oil can also result in hepatocellular disruption and nephrotoxicity in human body, which threatens human health (Deng et al, 2018).…”