Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil around Automobile Workshops in Wukari, North East Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32350/sir.102.01Keywords:
automobile workshop, Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), heavy metals, soilAbstract
An increasingly major source of heavy metal pollution in developing countries like Nigeria, where environmental regulations are poorly enforced, is automobile repair activity. In this study, soil samples were collected from different automobile workshops in Wukari Local Government in Taraba State, Nigeria to assess the heavy metal (Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn) concentration. A total of eight sampling points were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) and standard aqua regia digestion and the results were compared with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) permissible limits and a control value. The study shows a significant increase in metal concentration for iron (Fe) and lead (Pb) in soils around high-traffic workshop zones. The five heavy metals, from the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), were found to be within the unpolluted to moderately polluted category. The metal with the highest Igeo value at 0.38 is lead (Pb), suggesting that the presence of lead in the soil around the selected automobile workshops was more elevated as compared to the other metals. The lowest is copper (Cu) with Igeo value of 0.04, indicating the lowest level of contamination. Although the observed values for all the metals were within WHO standard limits, the continuous deposition of these metals in the soil around automobile workshops raises concerns about long-term soil health and potential risks to surrounding communities.
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