FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL

(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170

FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL

VARIATIONS IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND HEAVY METAL CONTENTS OF SOIL AROUND A CEMENT FACTORY IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA
Pages: 479-489
C.A. Onwudiegwu, G.C. Ezeh and I.B. Obioh


keywords: Chemical, concentrations, enrichment, geo-accumulation, heavy metal, pollution

Abstract

Soils around a cement factory in Sagamu, South West Nigeria were analyzed for their physicochemical (pH, texture, exchangeable cations and organic matter) parameters and elemental contents to assess the contamination level of the soils. Samples were collected at twenty-two identified transects of the soils near the cement factory using standard analytical procedures during dry and rain seasons. Elemental contents of the soils were determined using the bulk scientific Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) technique while the physicochemical parameters were determined using standard analytical techniques. In addition, calculation of Enrichment Factors (EFs), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Indices (PI) and Pearson correlation matrices were performed on the elemental concentration data. Results indicated that the physicochemical parameter values varied across the transects as well as in the seasons. Average soil pH ranged from 5.8 to 7.2 (dry season) and 4.6 to 6.8 (rain season) while organic matter contents were from 9.4 to 39.6 g/kg (dry) and 12.8 to 30.9 g/kg (rain). Soil texture of the transects was dominated by sandy structure with an average of 68 % (dry) and 57 % (rain). Ten elements (Ca, Pb, Zn, Mg, Fe, Cu, Co, As, Ni and Cr) were analyzed and their concentrations values established. Average total elemental concentrations were in the order of 2332 µg g-1 (0.3 km) > 1870 µg g-1 (0.3 km to 1 km) > 1048 µg g-1 (1 km to 5 km) > 671 µg g-1 (5 km to 10 km) > 322 µg g-1 (10 km to 20 km) > 406 µg g-1 (20km) and 509 µg g-1 (0.3 km to 1 km) > 596 µg g-1 (1 km to 5 km) > 319 µg g-1 (5 km to 10 km) > 460 µg g-1 (10 km to 20 km) > 119 µg g-1 (≥20 km) for dry and rain seasons respectively. The elements were majorly in the low EFs class while Igeo, PIs and Pearson correlation results revealed that some elements were in the highly pollution class and strongly correlated. The study concluded that anthropogenic emissions from the cement factory posed great hazard to nearby agricultural soils.

References

Adejumo JA, Obioh IB, Ogunsola FA, Akeredolu FA, Olaniyi HB, Asubiojo OI, Oluwole AF, Akanle OA & Spyrou NM 1994. The atmospheric deposition of major, minor and trace elements within and around three cement factories. J. Radioanal. & Nucl. Chem., 179(2): 195 - 204. Adefemi OS, Olaofe D & Asaolu SS 2007. Seasonal variation in heavy metal distribution in the sediment of major dams in Ekiti-State. Pak. J. Nutr., 6(6): 705 - 707. Adegbenro RO, Ojetade JO & Amusan AA 2013. Effect of topography on phosphorus forms and distribution in soils formed in mica schist in Ife area. J. Agric. & Vet. Sci., 5(1): 86 – 105. Adejumo JA, Obioh IO, Ogunsola OJ, Akeredolu FA, Olaniyi, HB, Asubiojo IO, Oluwole AF, Akanle AO & Spyrou NM 1994. The atmospheric deposition of major minor and trace elements within and around cement factories. Jour. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 179: 195-204. Addo MA, Darko EO, Gordon C, Nyarko JB, Gbadago JK, Nyarko E, Affum HA & Botwe BO 2012. Evaluation of heavy metals contamination of soil and vegetation in the vicinity of a cement factory in the Volta Region, Ghana. Int. J. Sci. & Tech., 2(1): 40 - 50. Ahiamadjie H, Adukpo OK, Tandoh JB, Gymampo O, Nyarku M, Mumuni II, Agyemang O, Ackah M, Otoo F & Dampare SB 2011. Determination of the elemental contents in soils around Diamond Cement factory, Aflao. Res. J. Envt. & Earth Sci., 3(1): 46 - 50. Akinlolu FA, Olusegun OK & Akinade SO 2007. The Sagamu cement factory, SW Nigeria: Is the dust generated a potential health hazard? Environ. Geochem. & Health, 29(21): 163 – 167. Alloway BJ & Ayres DC 1997. Chemical Principles of Environmental Pollution. Blackie Academic and Professional London, pp. 353-359 All-Oud SS, Nadeem MEA & Al-Shbel BH 2011. Distribution of Heavy metals in soils and plants around a cement factory in Riyadh city, Central of Saudi Arabia. American-Eurasian J. Agric & Envt. Sci., 11(2): 183 – 191. Asubiojo OI, Aina PO, Oluwole AF, Arshed W, Akanle OA & Spyrou NM 1992. Effects of cement production on the elemental composition of soils in the neighbourhood of two cement factories. Air, Water & Soil Poll., 57(58): 819 - 828. Banat KM, Howari FM & Al-Hamad AA 2005. Heavy metals in urban soils of central Jordan: Should we worry about their environmental risks? Envt. Res., 97: 258 - 273. Begum A, Ramaiah M, Irfanulla K & Veena K 2009. Analysis of heavy metal concentrations in soil and litchens from various localities of Hosur Road, Bangalore. India J. Chem., 6(1): 13 - 22. Bouyoucous GJ 1962. Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analyses of soils. Agro. J., 54: 464 – 465. De-Vries W, Romkens PFAM & Schutze G 2007. Critical soil concentrations of cadmium, lead and mercury in view of health effect on humans and animals. Rev. Envt. Cont. & Toxicol., 191: 91 – 30. Ezeh GC, Obioh IB, Asubiojo OI & Abiye OE 2012. PIXE characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 particulates sizes collected in Ikoyi Lagos, Nigeria. J. Toxicol. & Envt. Chem., 94(5): 884 – 894. Galas-Gorcher H 1991. Dietary intake of pesticide residues: Cadmium, mercury and lead. Food Add. Cont., 8: 793-80. Hendershot WH, Lalande H & Duquette M 1993. Soil reaction and exchangeable acidity; In: MR Carter (ed.) Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis for Canadian Society of Soil Science. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 141–145. International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA-TECDOC 1993. QXAS (Quantitative X-Ray Analysis System) User’s Manual IAEA, Vienna. Khashman OA & Shawabkeh RA 2006. Metal distribution in soils around the cement factory in southern Jordan. Envt. Poll., 140: 387 - 394. Lacatusu R 2000. Appraising levels of soil contamination and pollution with heavy metals. European Soil Bureau, 4: 93-402. Laxen DPH & Harrison RM 1981. Cleaning methods for polythene containers prior to determination of trace metals in fresh water samples. Anal. Chem., 53: 345 –350. Mandal A & Voutchkov M 2011. Heavy metals in soils around the cement factory in Rockfort, Kingston, Jaimaica. Int. J. Geosci., 2: 48-54. McLean JE & Bledsoe BE 1992. Behaviour of metals in soils in ground water issue: EPA/540/S-92/018. U. S. EPA Robert S. Kerr Environ. Res. Laboratory, Ada, OK, pp. 1-20. Oluyemi EA, Asubiojo OI, Oluwole AF & Toussaint CJN 1994. Elemental concentrations and source identification of air particulate matter at a Nigerian site: a preliminary study. J. Radioanal. & Nucl. Chem., 179(2): 187 – 194. Oyedele DJ, Aina PO, Oluwole F & Asubiojo IO 1990. Preliminary assessment of pollution effect of cement dust on soils and biomass production. Nig. J. Soil Sci., 10: 159 – 168. Oyedele DJ, Gasu MB & Awotoye OO 2008. Changes in soil properties and plant uptake of heavy metals on selected municipal solid waste dump sites in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. African Jour. of Environ. Sci. & Tech., 3(5): 107 – 115. Smyth AJ & Montgomery RF 1962. Soils and land use in central western Nigeria. Nigeria, Ibadan: Government Printer Suciu I, Cosma C, Todica M, Bolboaca SD & Jantschi L 2008. Analysis of soil heavy metal pollution and pattern in Central Transylvania. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 9: 434 – 453. Sze´kely GJ, Rizzo ML & Bakirov NK 2007. Measuring and testing independence by correlation of distances’, Annals of Stat., 35(6): 2769 – 2794. Taylor SR, 1964. Abundance of chemical elements in the continental crust; a new table. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 28(8): 1273 - 1285. Thomilson DC, Wilson DJ, Harris CR & Jeffrey DW 1980. Problem in heavy metals in estuaries and the formation of pollution index. Helgol. Wiss. Meeresunlter, 33(1–4): 566 – 575. United States Environmental Protection Agency USEPA 1996. Method 3050B acid digestion of sediments, sludges, soils and oils. SW-846 Washington DC Walkley A & Black IA 1934. An examination of the Degfjaref method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci., 37: 9 - 38

Highlights