Abstract
Lead pollution and lead tolerance levels of microbes in soil at major road junctions in Benin City were investigated. Results revealed that distance from the road junctions affected the concentrations of lead in soil,as well as the microbial population density and types of microbes present in the soil. The highest concentrations of lead were recorded with soil samples obtained at 0 and 10m distance closer to road junctions, while the lowest concentrations were recorded with soil samples obtained at 30m distance away from road junctions. The highest concentrationsrecorded for lead, copper and iron were 32 x 101 mg kg-1, 8 x 10-1 mg kg-1 6.3 x 10-1 respectively. All these levels decreased rapidly as the distance from the road increased. Bacterial counts increased as the distance from the road junctions increased. While fungal counts decreased as distance from road junctions increased. Lead tolerance range ofbacterial and fungal isolates was between 10 to 1000 mg 1-1. Non-significant, negative correlation was found between lead concentration and microbal counts. The bacteria and fungi most frequently isolated at 0 and 10m distance were Pseudomonas sp., Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Candida utilis, Penicillium sp and the yeast Saccharromyces cerevisiae. @JASEM
Highlights
The distribution of lead as a toxic pollutant has been the subject of concern since the advent of the antiknock lead additives in gasoline (Kuperman and Carreiro 1997: Chow and Earl, 1970)
The highest concentrations of lead were recorded in soil samples collected at 0 and 10 meters closer to road junctions, while the lowest concentration were recorded in samples collected at 30 meters away from road junctions
When the concentration of lead (2.00mg kg-1) at the control station was compared with those at road junction and few meters distance from road junctions, it showed that the soils at road junctions were more contaminated with lead
Summary
The distribution of lead as a toxic pollutant has been the subject of concern since the advent of the antiknock lead additives in gasoline (Kuperman and Carreiro 1997: Chow and Earl, 1970). The downward movement of these metals as a result of leaching over a prolonged period may result in the contamination of ground water by these metals Some of these metals may prevent or inhibit the uptake of useful soil minerals such as potassium phosphorous, nitrogen etc by plants (Atuanya et al, 1999). Studies on lead/heavy metal pollution and their microbial tolerance levels of lead, their solubilization and accumulation by two strains of Pseudomonas from battery manufacturing operations (Atuanya et al, 1999; Fagade and Adetutu, 1999).
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