This study aimed at the preliminary investigation of inorganic and organic contaminants in soils within Wukari metropolis and to assess the contamination status and metal bioavailability. Digested soil samples for total metals and fractionation were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations in triplicates using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer while 5 Varian Bond Elu SI SPE cartridges was used for solid phase extraction and the soil sample extracts were analyzed by GC-MS. The percentage bioavailability of metals ranged from Fe: 13.81 – 98.85 %, Ni: 65.01 - 80.93 %, Cr: 34.82 – 77.19 %, Pb: 66.93 - 86.59 % and Co: 70.35 - 99.14 % respectively. The bioavailability of Fe, Ni, Pb and Co station ST3 which is an agricultural area were above 50.00%. This indicates that food crops grown in the area may be contaminated by the metals. Irrespective of sampling points, the distribution of metals in the soil samples generally followed the order Fe: residual > carbonate > exchangeable > oxidizable; Ni: exchangeable > carbonate > oxidizable > residual; Pb: exchangeable > residual > carbonate > oxidizable; Co: exchangeable > carbonate > oxidizable > residual. Organic contaminants such as Halo alkanes; bromodichloromethane (molecular weight 162.0 g/mol) and chloroform (molecular weight 118.0 g/mol) were detected in ST1 while, 1, 1, 2 trichloroethane (molecular weight 132.0 g/mol). Another contaminant phenol d5 was recorded in sample ST2, ST3 and ST4 respectively. BTEX compounds were also contaminants present in ST5 (Fuel station near some automobile workshops).
Heavy metals accumulation in biological system are by inhalation of contaminated air, intake of contaminated food or drinking water has been considered to be an ecological menace to man and other organisms. This study was carried out to ascertain the pollution status of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd in sediment of Akata Lake, Katsina- Ala Benue State, Nigeria. Sediment samples were collected, digested using 30% H2O2 followed by 0.5M HCl and the metal concentrations were determined with Varian AA240 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with Zeeman’s background correction (Varian, New Jersey, USA). The mean level of the heavy metals, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and Cr are 31.05, 2.72, 19.22 and 0.88 mg/kg while the concentration of Cr was below the detection limit of the instrument. The values obtained were compared with the established soil and sediment standard by World Health Organization (WHO). The contamination factors value for Zn, Cu and Cd are <1 while that of Pb is >1, hence it shows that the sediment is polluted by lead. The pollution load index (PLI) and Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) levels for Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd heavy metals in sample A - E were less than 1 except for Pb which is >1, this show that, the sediment were polluted with Pb.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.