Spatial assessment of pollutants concentration in air and soils impacted by industrial wastes in lagos state, Nigeria

Abstract

The mega city of Lagos, Nigeria is plagued by various environmental issues, chief amongst them being environmental pollution induced by poor and disjointed urban industrial waste management practices. This study aimed to identify and quantify the types of urban industrial waste generated in Lagos State. The State plays host to the largest population base in Nigeria with over twenty million people. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design. Soil, industrial waste generation and pollutant levels were determined with the aid of a thermal mass gas flow meter. Industrial wastes were measured in situ using a weighting scale, while surface soil samples were collected at depths of 0–30 cm. Results show that 20% of the industrial waste generated in the metropolis was ignitable (possibility of spontaneous combustion). The results were thereafter compared with international standards on the permissible limits for various pollutants in air and soil of Lagos State. Ikorodu had the greatest contribution of industrial waste generated in Lagos, followed by Ikeja, Oshodi, Ojo/Alaba and Surulere. The implications of these results and findings is that a lot needs to be done in terms of appropriate legislation, enforcement and tracking of industrial waste generation in Lagos State for effective monitoring and implementation of management strategies.