Physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels in soil samples obtained from selected anthropogenic sites in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of heavy metals introduced into the soils through human activities which can bio-accumulate in plants and passed to man via the food chain that can pose health risk. Topsoil samples were collected from selected anthropogenic and control sites (dumpsites, mechanical workshops, abattoirs, fuel filling stations and hospital incinerators) in Abeokuta, Nigeria at the depths 0-5cm, 5-10cm and 10-15cm. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, moisture content, bulk density, organic matter, organic carbon, particle size distribution and Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cd were analyzed in soils using standard methods. Soil pH values ranged from 5.17 -8.28, moisture content ranged from 3.50 -28.55 %, bulk density ranged from 0.78 -2.29 gcm -3 , organic matter ranged from 0.09 -16.01 %, organic carbon ranged from 0.02 % -8.48 %. Mean concentrations of heavy metals (mgkg -1 ) ranged from 182.69 ± 61. 95 -697.06 ± 85.62; 122.69 ± 30.04 -632.94 ± 508.79; 19.38 ± 6.72 -158.50 ± 71.41; 0.25 ± 0.00 -1.63 ± 1.38 for Mn, Zn, Pb and Cd respectively. Distribution pattern of heavy metals in petrol stations, abattoirs, mechanic workshops and hospital incinerator sites were Mn > Zn > Pb > Cd, while for dumpsites Zn > Mn > Pb > Cd. Pollution index indicated that soil qualities varied between slightly contaminated to severely polluted status. This showed that the heavy metal contamination of the soils does not call for any alarm; proactive measures must be taken to minimize accumulation of these metals. ©JASEM https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v21i5.14

Lead Bioaccumulation in Root and Aerial Part of Natural and Cultivated Pastures in Highly Contaminated Soils in Central Andes of Peru

“…Peasant community "Purísima Concepción de Paccha" (CCP-LO), of Yauli province, Junín-Peru, is situated between South Latitude 11 ° 31´03" and West Longitude 75 ° 53´58" (altitude 3,700) and located 10.2 km from metallurgical complex La Oroya (Figure 2), industry dedicated to poly-metallic transformation (copper, zinc, silver, lead, indium, bismuth, gold, selenium, tellurium and antimony), that emits fine particulate material (PM), loaded with heavy metals that pollute the ecosystem for more than nine decades [23,24]. PM rich in Pb and other heavy metals is deposited in the soil and water resources, and being easy transferred to the plants [25,26,17]. Figure 2 shown the geographical location o the CCP-LO.…”

“…The Pb absorption is affected by the concentration of other metals, pH and organic matter content [17] and bioaccumulation of chemical elements in plants depends on their concentrations in soil [10]. Bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals pose a threat to human health, induce renal tumors, reduce cognitive, development, and increase blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases risk for adults [18,19].…”

“…In the central region of Peru, for more than 90 years, soils have been contaminated by metallurgical emissions of fine particulate ASTESJ ISSN: 2415-6698 material, rich in lead and other heavy metals [24], which have been deposited in the soil and they are available for plants [25,26,17]; in this case, Pb bioaccumulates in the pastures consumed by cattle, sheep and South American camelids.…”

Assessment of soil pH and heavy metal concentrations in agricultural land impacted with Medical Waste Incinerator (MWI) Flue Ash (FA) in Abia State, Nigeria

“…The result of Cr obtained is lower than the critical permissible level which is 50 mg/kg-1 for soil recommended for agriculture by MAFF (1992). Result of Zn correlation in soils obtained in the control is far below 548.56 -642.94 obtained from hospital incinerator soil by Olayinka et al (2017). These values are far lower than the natural limits of 0.01-3.0 mg/kg in soil as given by MAFF (1992) , and lower than the tolerable soil contamination standard (SCS) and sediment quality guideline (SQG) levels of concentration (Xu-Chen et al, 2007).Positively loading in Factor 1 may be associated with flue gas while negatively loaded with Cr, Pb, Mn, and Zn may be associated with lithogenic.…”

“…The result against the finding of Yaseen et al (2015) who observed that the pH of soil was acidic near the kiln and neutral farther away. Lower pH favors availability, mobility and redistribution of the metals in the various fractions due to increased solubility of the ions in acidic environment (Gunjan and Neupane, 2015;Jason et al, 2016;Olayinka et al, 2017). The result further shows that the effect of soil depths and distances were highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) on the level of soil pH in the sampled soil.The result of the effect of incinerator flue gas on heavy metals in soil varied between incinerator site and control at different distances.…”