Forensic Entropy Assessment of Soil, Plant, Meat and Effluent: A Case Study of Obollo-Afor and Environs, Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy metal concentrations were determined in four different locations: market, abattoir, mechanic village and farmland in Obollo–Afor and its environs. The samples were digested and subsequently analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentration of metals in the soil samples were in the order Fe > Zn > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd. The mean concentration of metals in the effluent samples were in the order Fe > Cr > Ni > Pb > Zn > Mn > Cd > Cd. The mean concentration of the metals in meat samples were in the order Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cd > Cr > Pb. The mean concentration of metals in the plant samples were in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd. Cadmium, zinc, chromium and lead were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for soil while cadmium, copper and zinc were higher than the WHO standard for plant. Iron, zinc, copper, nickel and chromium were higher than the WHO standard for meat while lead, nickel, iron, were higher than the WHO standard for water. Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) showed low risk for all locations while degree of contamination (Cdeg) revealed medium to high values for all locations except AB7. Consequently, the environment is not safe due to high concentration of these toxic metals. The multivariate analyses unraveled anthropogenic and geogenic sources of the contamination. With this trend of findings from the forensics entropy analysis, it can be said that Obollo Afor is the epicentre of these contaminants and attenuates towards the farmland area. The study therefore recommends effective and efficient environmental management strategy measures to curb this menace.