Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil from E-waste Dumpsites in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria.

Adebola Abosede Adeyi,Peter Oyeleke

doi:10.5696/2156-9614-7.15.71

Abstract

Background.Soil contamination from heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released during informal e-waste processing and disposal poses human and ecological health risks in Nigeria.Objectives.This study assesses the levels of heavy metals and PAHs in soils of e-waste dumpsites in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods.Composite soil samples were collected at depths of 0–15 cm, 15–30 cm and 30–45 cm from major e-waste dumpsites in Lagos and Ibadan and analyzed for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and PAHs to evaluate the potential contaminant contribution from e-waste activities. Control samples were collected at the Botanical Garden, University of Ibadan. Samples were analyzed for heavy metals after acid digestion using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while PAHs were extracted using cold solvent extraction and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Blank determination and recovery studies were carried out for each metal. Contamination and ecological risks were assessed using soil contamination indices such as contamination factor, geo-accumulation and pollution load indices, and potential ecological risk index to categorize contaminant concentrations and associated impacts. Soil physico-chemical characteristics such as pH and total organic matter were also determined.Results.Metals concentrations in the dumpsite soils ranged from 114–2,840 mg/kg and not detectable - 6.50 mg/kg for Pb and Cd, and 42.8–5,390 mg/kg, 27.5–3,420 mg/kg, 11.0–128 mg/kg and 94.0–325 mg/kg for Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr, respectively. Serious metals accumulation was observed at every e-waste dumpsite, as shown by the pollution load index. The potential ecological risk values were between 584 and 10,402 at all of the dumpsites, signifying very high ecological risk. The total PAHs ranged from 1,756–2,224 μg/kg at the 0–15 cm level, 1,664–2,152 μg/kg at 15–30 cm and 278 μg/kg in the top- and sub-soil of the control site.Discussion.The total PAHs in the soil of e-waste dumpsites was significantly higher than in the control soil.Conclusions.The results of this study indicate that indiscriminate dumping and open burning of e-waste are potential sources of PAH and toxic metal emissions, which can pose serious human health and ecological risks.

Highlights

Soil contamination resulting from uncontrolled dumping of municipal, industrial, and agricultural solid waste, as well as hazardous waste such as e-waste, has become a public health concern in Nigeria.[1,2,3,4,5,6] Of particular concern is soil contamination at informal electronic waste recycling and disposal sites
Soil Characteristics and Total Metals Concentrations The pH of topsoil (0-15 cm) ranged from 5.77-5.80 and 5.84 - 6.30, respectively, in samples collected in Lagos (LSS) and Ibadan (ISS), while total organic matter ranged from 8.328.85% and 3.27-8.65%, respectively (Table 2)
Topsoil Pb ranged from 193-2,240 mg/kg in Lagos and 246-2,090 mg/ kg in Ibadan, while Cu ranged from 50.5-5,390 mg/kg and 79.3-1,150 mg/kg, Zn ranged from 220-1930 mg/kg and 27.5-3420 mg/kg, Cd ranged from 0.43-5.85 mg/kg and not detectable-6.50 mg/kg, Ni ranged from 11.0-51.5 mg/kg and 27.7-128 mg/ kg, and Cr ranged from 108-118 mg/ kg and 94.0-325 mg/kg, in Lagos and Ibadan, respectively (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Soil contamination resulting from uncontrolled dumping of municipal, industrial, and agricultural solid waste, as well as hazardous waste such as e-waste, has become a public health concern in Nigeria.[1,2,3,4,5,6] Of particular concern is soil contamination at informal electronic waste recycling and disposal sites. Soil contamination from heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released during informal e-waste processing and disposal poses human and ecological health risks in Nigeria. This study assesses the levels of heavy metals and PAHs in soils of e-waste dumpsites in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria. Composite soil samples were collected at depths of 0–15 cm, 15–30 cm and 30–45 cm from major e-waste dumpsites in Lagos and Ibadan and analyzed for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and PAHs to evaluate the potential contaminant contribution from e-waste activities. The results of this study indicate that indiscriminate dumping and open burning of e-waste are potential sources of PAH and toxic metal emissions, which can pose serious human health and ecological risks. E-waste, soil contamination, heavy metals, PAHs, ecological risk, waste management Received April 10, 2017.

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Discussion

Conclusion