Effects of automobile battery wastes on physicochemical properties of soil in Benin City, Edo State

Abstract

Difference in soil qualities has been noticeable in many soils due to anthropogenic sources, especially of automobile battery wastes. This study examines the effects of automobile battery wastes on the physicochemical properties of the soil. Soil samples for this study were collected in triplicates from three battery chargers' workshops: Adolor, Edaiken and Uwelu in Benin City, Edo State at 0-15cm depth, in the months of August, September and October. The soil physicochemical parameters analyzed indicate variations of values in the contaminated soil over uncontaminated soil (control). Among the parameters examined, conductivity was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the contaminated soil (59.3-184mho/cm) than in the uncontaminated soil. Notably, a more acidic pH value of 3.7-4.5 was also recorded beyond standard limits of 6.5~8.5. Meanwhile phosphorus was relatively high (1.95-3.35) and nitrogen (0.08-0.15) was low as against the control value of 2.71 and 0.18 respectively. Heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Copper (Cu) were present in different concentrations in contaminated soil sample which ranges from far above acceptable standard limit between (0.288-0.875, 0.757-1.342, 0.108-0.279, 0.718-1.062 and 0.272-0.518 mg/kg) compared to their values in the control soil sample having 0.003, 0.125, 0, 0 and 0.063 mg/kg respectively. Battery wastes were found to be significant sources of Cadmium and Chromium, as none of both was detected in the control soil sample. The daily activities of auto-mechanic battery workshops have negative impacts on soil physicochemical properties. Note, the soil in mechanic battery workshops needs urgent cleanup to minimize contamination of ecological materials and public health implication. This work will prove valuable in providing baseline information for further soil quality monitoring studies in study area

Effect of Mechanic Village Activities on Selected Soil Properties in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria

“…With regard to physical properties control improve more than soils of mechanic village. This confirmed the study of [7] who showed that wastes from mechanic villages are detrimental to soil physical properties.…”

“…Many studies have shown that wastes from automobile are sources of heavy metal pollution [1,3,4,5,6] on their study of the effect of spent engine oil discharge on soil properties in an automobile mechanic village in Nekede, Imo State, Nigeria showed that there was lower exchangeable bases in automobile mechanic vallage than control. Also, [7] showed that the daily activities of auto-mechanic battery workshops have negative impacts on soil physicochemical properties such as bulk density, total porosity, available phosphorus and cation exchange capacity. On the other hand, [8] on his study of analyzing soil contamination status in garage and auto mechanical workshops of shashemane city: implication for hazardous waste management observed that heavy metals in auto mechanical soil were extremely higher than US EPA and EU regulation standards.…”

Pollution Potential and Chemical Interaction of Some Physicochemical Parameters of Soil Contaminated With E-Waste

“…800 (30-40 cm), followed by those of TOM and TOC. The values of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were low, when compared to WHO values of 4,500.00 and 5,000.00 mg/kg (Orjiakor and Atuanya, 2015). They ranged from 139.26 -185.65 mg/kg and 60.73 -84.88 mg/kg respectively.…”

“…The mean concentrations of the physicochemical parameters of the e-waste polluted soil are presented on table 1 & 2 and also on figures 2 & 3. From table 1, it was found that cation exchange capacity (CEC) had very high values of pollution in all the depths when compared to WHO limit value of 1000.00 mg/kg (Orjiakor and Atuanya, 2015). They ranged from 194,616.000 mg/kg (10-20 cm) 227,024.760 mg/kg (0-10 cm), this call for alarm since the value are far higher than the WHO values.…”

“…There was corresponding increase in the TOM values as the CEC values increased. Also, it was observed that the total organic carbon content (TOC) was also high when compared to WHO value of 1,720.00 mg/kg (Orjiakor and Atuanya, 2015). They ranged from 4,250.00 -5,800.00 mg/kg, which also call for alarm.…”