Assessment of environmental pollution using indices, transfer factor and source apportionment in soils and plants of wetlands in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study assessed metal pollution in wetland ecosystems in North-western Nigeria, which is susceptible to pollution from various sources including agriculture, industry and urbanisation. The study analysed the concentrations of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and iron (Fe) in wetland soils and plants from 10 sites in the region. Pollution indices, including contamination factor, modified degree of contamination, Nemerow pollution index and pollution load index, were used to determine the extent of metal pollution in the study area, while transfer factors were calculated to assess the potential for metal transfer from soils to plants. The results showed that metal concentrations in wetland soils and plants varied widely depending on the location and the metal of interest, with some sites showing higher concentrations due to agricultural and mining activities. The pollution indices indicated that metal pollution was generally moderate to highly polluted in the study areas, with some metals showing higher potential for transfer from soil to plants than others. This study provides valuable insights into the extent and severity of metal pollution in some wetland soils and plants in Northern Nigeria.