Soil Contamination with Heavy Metals around Jinja Steel Rolling Mills in Jinja Municipality, Uganda

Abstract

Soil contamination with heavy metals has severely increased over the last decades, mainly from industrial wastes and human activities. 1,2 Soil pollution by heavy metals is as a result of both natural processes such as weathering of minerals, and anthropogenic activities related to industries, fossil fuel burning, emissions from vehicles, mining, agriculture and metallurgical processes and their waste disposal. 3 The production of steel is vital for the economic growth of Uganda, but its production is a major source of pollution. 4 Solid and liquid wastes, including fumes generated from the steel plant and the raw materials, usually contain notable amounts of heavy metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), Background. Soil contamination with heavy metals has severely increased over the last few decades, mainly from industrial wastes and human activities. Soil pollution is a source of danger to the health of people globally. Objectives. To assess the level of soil contamination with heavy metals around steel rolling mills in Jinja municipality, Uganda. Methods. Four composite soil samples were collected from each of the sides of the Jinja steel rolling mills, dried and digested. The digested solution samples were analyzed in triplicates for the levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (Savant AA model 2009); the analytical process was monitored using analytical standard solutions. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 19 and Excel. Mean metal concentrations, standard deviations, medians, and skewness were obtained to describe heavy metal concentrations in the soil. Pollution load index and geo-accumulation indices were calculated to determine the level and extent of heavy metal contamination in the soil. Results. The mean concentration loads of the heavy metals in soils around the Jinja steel rolling mills were 43.15 mg/kg for Pb, 28.16 mg/kg for Zn, 0.93 mg/kg for Cd, 0.22 mg/kg for Cr, 80.96 mg/kg for Cu, and 9.40 mg/kg for Ni. The metal load distribution around the industry was in descending order: Left-hand side > Downwind side > Right-hand side > Upwind side. Results for the geo-accumulation index were 1.30 for Pb,-1.31 for Zn, 2.63 for Cd,-7.25 for Cr, 2.99 for Cu, and-1.19 for Ni. The overall pollution load index was 1.08. Conclusions. The concentration levels of heavy metals around the steel rolling mills did not appear to be of serious concern, except for copper and cadmium, which showed moderate pollution and moderate to strong pollution, respectively. All heavy metals were within the limits of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) residential soil standards and the Dutch intervention soil standards. Overall, soils around the Jinja steel rolling mills were slightly polluted with heavy metals, and measures therefore need to be taken to prevent further soil contamination with heavy metals.

An evaluation of the environmental impact assessment practice in Uganda: challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable development

“…Despite the 25 years of EIA practice in Uganda, several studies including ( Bateganya et al., 2015 ; Ochieng et al., 2010 ; Kayima et al., 2008 ; Mbabazi et al., 2010 ; Mghweno et al., 2008 ; Namuhani, 2015 ; Oguttu et al., 2008 ; Walakira and Okot-Okumu, 2011 ; Scheren et al., 2000 ; Sekabira, 2010 ) reveal increasing levels of pollution of lakes particularly Lake Victoria, rivers, streams, aquifers and soils due to discharge of untreated industrial and agricultural effluents and increased degradation of wetlands. Many authors allude that, despite the existence of good guidelines and environmental legislations, environmental degradation continue to be a good concern of developing countries ( Alshuwaikhat et al., 2007 , p. 311).…”

Evaluation of Pollution of Soils and Particulate Matter Around Metal Recycling Factories in Southwestern Nigeria

“…Metals have many industrial applications and metal recycling has become increasingly attractive owing to the shrinking worldwide reserves of primary ore minerals, increased level of consumption and need to reduce and mitigate potentially toxic materials in the environment. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 …”

“…The emissions from MRFs are usually enriched with potentially toxic elements (PTE), silica and lime. 2 , 4 …”

Environmental Exposures and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Cadmium is also used in the production of plastics, fertilizers, and batteries 114,174 . Communities in LMIC, particularly low-income communities, may be chronically exposed to cadmium, an exposure that is only recently made apparent as heavy metal monitoring is implemented in communities, as illustrated by studies from Ghana and Uganda 175,176 . In fact, cadmium exposure is likely to increase in the coming decades in part due to electronic waste disposal, as seen in Nigeria, 202 .…”