Assessment of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu) concentrations in soils along a major highway in Wukari, North-Eastern Nigeria
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2015, Vol 6, Issue 2
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution is a major environmental problem, especially around highways with high traffic density. This study investigates the levels of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu in roadside soils of Wukari section of the Wukari-Jalingo highway, Taraba state, Nigeria. Samples were randomly collected and analyzed using standard methods. The mean concentrations (µg/g) of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu from all sample sites ranged: 89.6-247.0, 0.15-5.3, 26.8-163.0 and 7.1-61.2 respectively. The extent of the heavy metals contamination was assessed, as analytical data were subjected to pollution calculation methods. The contamination factors (CF) reveal extreme contamination of the sites and an increasing trend in the heavy metals concentrations was observed in sites with more human activities. The pollution load index (PLI) showed that the sites are severely polluted as the PLI of the metals from each sample site exceeded the PLI of the background (control) sample (0.7). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis showed clear correlations (p<0.001) amongst the metals suggesting a common source. It can be concluded that the study sites pollution is mostly due to automobile emissions. This study provides awareness for residents to avoid activities such as farming, trading etc very close to the highway due to exposures to these toxic metals.
Authors and Affiliations
Achadu, O. J Goler, E. E, Ayejuyo, O. O Olaoye O. O, Ochimana, O. I
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP38200
- DOI -
- Views 157
- Downloads 0
Studying the ways of recovering debts from a Bankrupt Merchant
Bankruptcy is a situation in which a merchant has become incapable of paying debts. In Iran, before the enactment of the Commercial Code, the provisions relating to insolvency were applied to both merchants and non-mer...
Spatial and temporal variability of soil organic matter and its association with the availability of nutrients in ten different agricultural fields
The agriculture production in soil system of Pakistan is low due to calcareous and alkaline nature of soil with low organic matter status. The availability of nutrients to crops in this type of soil is a problem. For thi...
Selectivity and effectiveness of different gillnet mesh sizes used in ranau lake of Sumatra
Ranau Lake, the second biggest lake in Sumatra Indonesia, is inhabited by various freshwater fishes. The local people depend largely on fish resources for their life and use gillnet fishing gear for their fishing activi...
Detection and modeling of seismic sources in a wide range of operational stations of oil-rich regions adjacent to the residential zones of Ahvaz Metropolitan using erdas imagine sofware
One of the main factors always considered by engineers, designers and utilizes is to study the performance of structures against natural disasters, especially earthquake. To fulfill this objective, the first step is to...
Integration of biochar and chemical fertilizer to enhance quality of soil and wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.)
A wide variety of soil amendments like manures, compost, humic acid and bio-sorbents have been used to make nutrients available to crops as well as to protect them from toxic elements. Among soil amendments, biochar has...