Assessment of Industrial Waste on Soil Pollution in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of industrial waste on soil pollution in Asaba, Delta State. The procedure adopted the ex post facto research model comprising a comprehensive range of simultaneous measures of industrial waste collection and soil quality in the selected industrial areas in Asaba. Industries in Asaba were selected based on the nature and type of industrial waste generated at random. Six existing industrial locations in Asaba were selected. The collected soil samples were used to investigate the soil pH, Zinc, Lead, Chromium, Silver and Copper concentration levels of the soils. Multiple regression was used to ascertain the effect of industrial waste on the soil in Asaba. 188071 Kg of industrial waste containing flammable, corrosive and toxic substances were generated at industrial landfills in Asaba. The industrial waste generated exceeds WHO standards. This is an implication that the industrial waste generated in Asaba is hazardous. The study revealed that most soils in industrial dumpsites are acidic and this is a reflection of the industrial waste's corrosive ability. Soils in the industrial dump sites are very high in Zinc, lead and chromium contents. Asaba Expressway 2 industrial dump sites have the highest amount of zinc and lead content, while Summit Junction industrial dump site has the highest content of silver. At a P<0.05 significance level, the calculated F value is 3.11 while the critical table value is 41.95. Thus, the toxicity in the soils in Asaba is significantly dependent on the chemical (Zinc, lead and Chromium) properties of industrial waste generation. Furthermore, as Zinc, lead and Chromium properties in industrial waste increase, the toxicity of the soil increases as well. Thus polluting the soils in Asaba industrial areas. The results obtained from this study portrayed that the Zero waste approach would be the recommended choice for sustainable waste management.