Abstract
Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-30cm within two steel markets and a control site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria to assess the level of heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As) in the environment. Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer was used to analyze the samples for heavy metals. The concentrations of all the heavy metals in the steel rods markets exceeded that of the control. The results indicated that heavy metals concentrations in the sites were in the order; Mile III > Kala > RSU. The average levels of contamination of heavy metals recorded followed the order Fe > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Cd in Mile III, Fe > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in Kala and Fe > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in RSU (control). Mean concentrations obtained for heavy metals within the months of investigation were; 1420.931±9.155, 7.753±0.184, 8.730±0.050, 2.843±0.124, 9.428±0.122, 7.433±0.047 and 3.732±0.047 mg/Kg for Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As respectively at the mile III station, while the mean concentrations of heavy metals observed at the Kala station were; 1161.173±1.823, 9.425±0.054, 7.596±0.027, 1.425±0.020, 6.507±0.006, 5.455±0.033 and 1.901±0.010 mg/Kg for Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As respectively. The mean values of heavy metals concentrations observed at the RSU station within the period were; 892.064±1.025,5.603±0.007, 5.841±0.051, 0.173±0.005, 3.389±0.009, 2.309±0.010 and 0.706±0.006 mg/Kg for Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and As respectively. Pollution assessment models used for assessing the anthropogenic input on the quality of the soil in the area using the control site as the basis of judgment were: contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), contamination degree (CD), modified contamination degree (mCD), potential ecological risk coefficient (Eir), potential ecological risk index (RI), Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and anthropogenicity. These indices revealed that the steel markets were contaminated and polluted and poses ecological risks by heavy metals, even though the values obtained were still below the WHO acceptable limits. The steel rods markets need to be adequately monitored and regulated to avoid further soil contamination by heavy metals to a degree that will be dangerous to human health.
Highlights
The soil is a natural resource of great importance due to its ability to act as reservoir and sink for different contaminants, heavy metals inclusive, which results from deposition from manufacturing activities, urban development and industrialization (Liu et al, 2014; El-Sherbiny et al, 2019)
The results indicated that the average contamination by heavy metals in the steel rods markets were in the order, Fe > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Cd in Mile III, Fe > Pb > Cu > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in Kala and Fe > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > As > Cd in Rivers State University (RSU)
The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals within the steel rods markets were below the limit set by World Health Organization (WHO) (1998) except that of cadmium and arsenic
Summary
The soil is a natural resource of great importance due to its ability to act as reservoir and sink for different contaminants, heavy metals inclusive, which results from deposition from manufacturing activities, urban development and industrialization (Liu et al, 2014; El-Sherbiny et al, 2019). Soil has the ability to act as buffer by controlling chemical and biological contaminants in the air and water (Lutts & Lefevra, 2015). Rapid urbanization and industrialization have influenced soil ecological system. Activities such as mining, construction, waste disposal, energy production and fuel combustion has led to the deposition of heavy metals in urban environments which has brought about severe soil pollution by heavy metals (Kabata-Pendias, 2010; Taghipour, 2011). The soil is the recipient of great amount of heavy metals and other pollutants on daily basis and have the potential to cause disorder in the soil functional system (Sidhu, 2016)
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