January 2016 Vol.4 No.1

Search Pubmed for articles by:
 

Original Research Article

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soil of Ogbomoso and its Environs

^*Oladeji, J. T., Adetola, S. O., and Ogunsola, A. D

Mechanical Engineering Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: jtoladeji@lautech.edu.ng

Accepted January 13, 2016

Abstract

Monitoring the level of accommodation of the heavy metals in soil is of great importance, since the continuous deposition in the soil can cause severe environmental degradation and toxicity. This work, therefore investigated the degree of heavy metal pollution in the soil of Ogbomoso, which is one of major cities in Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from three different locations within Ogbomoso. The locations are an auto-mechanic workshop near the stadium, a motor park within a residential area and from university farms. The samples were collected at distances of 50 metres and 100 metres away from the point of location of the study sites. The soil samples were air-dried in the laboratory for about fourteen days. After drying, the samples were collected and sieved. 0.5 mm particle size was selected in order to obtain fine particles. The concentrations of investigated metals were determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results of investigation revealed that there was heavy pollution of Manganese (Mn) in all the three sites, while the lead (Pb) pollution was observed in the mechanic workshop and the motor park. Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) pollution was only found in the mechanical workshop, while the only metal that was within the recommended safe limit in all three sites was Cadmium (Cd). The study concluded that, the less polluted site was the university farms and that vehicular traffic as well as repairs and maintenance of automobiles, were the major sources of soil pollution in Ogbomoso and by extension Nigeria.

Keywords: Concentration, Heavy metal, Pollution, Soil