Abstract
This research appraised the extent of contamination in soils within the vicinity of automobile workshops in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. This was with the view of ascertaining the effects of the estimated contamination would have on the quality of soils and terrestrial organisms in the impacted soils. The soils were moderate to slightly acidic with a range from 5.42 ± 0.04 to 6.41 ± 0.13. Zinc contamination in the soils was very severely contaminated (C/P index 0.85), lead had very slight contamination index of 0.11 while copper was moderated polluted with a C/P index value of 2.57. The soils had contamination factor (CF) greater than 6 in all the metals, indicating very high contamination. The degree of contamination was 163.25, implying very high degree of contamination. The pollution load index value of 5.47 obtained for n=3 (metals) showed that the soils had very intense perturbation. Iron being relatively abundant in nature has no C/P value as the lists of standards formulated by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) excludes iron. Contamination factor obtained for TPH varied from 41.88 to 47.27. The soils were rated to be excessively contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. There was significant variations between the controls and the contaminated soils at levels of <i>P</i> =.05. The impacted soils could have detrimental effects on the quality of soils and terrestrial organisms within and around automobile workshops.
Highlights
Humans have invented many means to make life more comfortable and movement from one place to the other easier
The contamination/pollution index C/P represents the inorganic and organic content effectively measured in soil and the reference value of the contamination obtained using the standard table as stipulated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for the maximum allowable concentration of the contaminant in the media [16]
The results for the physico-chemical parameters, heavy metals and organics obtained from the contaminated soils within the vicinity of automobile workshops in Bendel estate, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Jakpa road, Eboh road and Agbarho are presented in Tables 8 – 13 and Figures 2 - 3
Summary
Humans have invented many means to make life more comfortable and movement from one place to the other easier. Excavating fossil fuels for energy to power vehicles and machines have facilitated the improvement of the quality of life for many people. Many of these inventions have a downside because energy and chemicals needed for such improvements may have adverse impacts on the environment and humans. Manufacturing and application of these products together with the lack of appropriate waste disposal methods / techniques have caused a lot of substances to end up in the environment causing contamination of soil, groundwater, sediments and subsequently the food chain [1]. Even with the recent ban on cars over ten years of manufacturing by the Federal Government, vehicles with a lifespan of more than ten years are still been smuggled into the country and this have increase the numbers of vehicles on the roads, automobile repairs/workshops activities and subsequently the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
