International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VII, Issue VIII, August 2022 | ISSN 2454–6194
Ma’aji. A. M1*., Yunus, M. M2,and Shua’ibu, A.B3
1Department of Basic Science, Yobe State College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Gujba
2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Yobe State University, Damaturu
3Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Mai Idriss Alooma Polytechnic Geidam, Yobe State.
*Corresponding Author
Abstract: In this study, the environmental risk of some selected heavy metals in soil among small-scale automobile repair workshops in brownfields urban of Damaturu LGA, Yobe state, Nigeria was assessed. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the presence of selected heavy metals in the soil; compared the concentration of heavy metals with European council for European communities (EC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) standards for soil quality. Soil samples were collected from selected automobile workshops site along Maiduguri, Gujba, Potiskum and Gashua roads respectively at the depths of 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20 and 20-25cm. A simple random sampling method was adopted for the study. Analysis were carried out using mean, standard deviation and ANOVA. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in soil samples (mgkg-1) ranged from 24.49+4.18-58.18+2.60, 3.32+1.12-7.85+0.42, 19.29+2.42-40.09+1.74, 53.54+20.08- 173.74+8.51, 20.95+0.83 – 46.93+2.28 for Pb, As, Se, Fe and Cd respectively. All the values recorded for the selected heavy metals in the samples were within the permissible limit recommended by WHO/FAO except selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd) which were found to be above the permissible limit. The concentration of lead (Pb) was found to be significant (P˂0.05) at depth 5-10cm (36.26b). So also, the concentration of Cd and As in Maiduguri road was found to be significant (P˂0.05) at a depth 20-25cm (32.72b) and 10-15cm (7.13b) respectively while no significant difference was observed in Gashu’a road between the whole soil depth (P˃0.05) recorded respectively. There is a significant differences (P >0.05) in the concentration of Se in both road at some certain soil depth. The concentration of Fe was found to be significant (P˂0.05) at both road except in Potiskum road. The results indicated that soil qualities varied between slightly contaminated to highly polluted status. This showed that the heavy metal contamination of the soils do not call for any alarm; however, it is recommended that, proactive measures must be taken to minimize accumulation of these metals in the soil; health and environmental talks should also be given occasionally to automobile operators to be more safety conscious and embrace environmentally friendly practices that will enhance their performance and work operations.
Key words: Automobile, Contamination, Environmental, Heavy metals, Soil, Workshop
I. INTRODUCTION
Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth crust. It may be contaminated by the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids through emission of industrial gases, mine tailings, disposal of metal wastes, gasoline and paints, application of inorganic fertilizers, animal manures, sewage sludge, pesticides, wastewater irrigation, combustion residues, spillage of petrochemicals, and atmospheric deposition [1]. Heavy metal are generally used to describe a group of metals and metalloids with an atomic density greater or more than 5.0 g/cm3 [2]. Heavy metals occur naturally in the soil from the pedogenetic processes of weathering of parent materials at levels that are regarded as trace (<100mg kg−1) and rarely toxic [3]; [4].