Complete Material Cost #3,000
Order for Complete Material now
ABSTRACT
The level of heavy metal concentration in polluted soil occurs through so many anthropogenic activities. The aim of this research work is to assess the level of heavy metals such as Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in polluted soil from Soku Community and also to know the pH values of the both soil samples (polluted and unpolluted). Soil samples were air-tried and digested using aqua regia. The samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and the pH of the samples were known with the aid of a glass electrode. Result obtained showed that Fe, Cu, Pb and Zn were detected while Ni, Cr, Cd were not detected. These values were compared to the standards set by WHO and the results showed that all metals are above the safe limit excepting for Chromium that is below the permissible limit. While the pH results shows that both soil samples are slightly alkaline across the sight. This study therefore recommends that continuous assessment and monitoring of the levels of heavy metals in the environment due to anthropogenic activities for evaluation of human exposure and for sustainable environment.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Heavy metals are the most dangerous pollutant of anthropogenic environmental pollutants due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment. Guo, G. 2012, Koz, B. 2012; past studies have revealed that human exposure to high concentrations of heavy metals will lead to their accumulation in the human body. Heavy metals exposure to human occurs through three primary absorption. The treat that heavy metal pose to human and animal health is aggravated by their low environmental mobility, even under high precipitations, and their long term persistence in the environment, Adelekan B.A 2011. Rising metal concentration in soil is serious and current concern for governmental and regulatory bodies for environmental and human risk assessment. Therefore, the use of simple and accurate methods for monitoring heavy metals has a great importance among the environmental studies. The assessment of heavy metal contamination can be conducted using various methods such as total heavy metals concentration.
Infact, the significance of trace elements in soil chemistry is increasingly becoming an issue of global concern especially as soil constitutes a crucial components of rural and urban environment.
United State Department of Agriculture 2001, Lim, H. 2008. Heavy metals such as Cadmium (cd), Copper (cu), Chromium (cr), Lead (pb), Maganese (mn), Nickel (Ni) and Zinc (zn) which are often contained as addition in some lubricants and gasoline are non-degradable in the soil. Some of them have been classified as primary pollutants by United State environmental protection agency. At the moment, very few technologies, such as soil washing and bioremediation are available to treat these mixed waste Sharma, H.D. 2014. Since metals from both natural and anthropogenic sources accumulate in soil, it is often difficult to determine what fraction of soils metal load comes from which source. heavy metals are extremely persistent in the environment. They are non-biodegradable and thermodegrable and therefore readily accumulate to toxic level. Akgue et al 2008. Industrial effluent discharged from text tilles and tannery contains a higher amount of metals especially chromium, copper and cadmium.
Deepali and Gangwar, 2010. Other sources of the metals are murices, foundries, smelters and coal-burning power plants, combustion by product and vehicle emission. Among the key issues in environmental research on heavy metals is their mobility in ecosystem and transfers into the food chains. Steiners et al, 1997, 2000; Donisa et al, 2000. Human exposure to heavy metals occurs primarily through inhalation of air and ingestion of food and water.
Jimoh and Mohammed, 2012. The soil, a main part of the terristal ecosystem, is a habitant for a great number of organisms, but at the same time, the most endangered component of the environment, which open to influence of different varieties of pollutants arising from human activities.
In particular, heavy metal pollution of surface soils due to intense industrialization and urbanization has become a serious concern in many developing countries. Mireless et al. 2013. Wei and Yang 2010, Yauglli Abanuz 2011. The accumulation of heavy metals in surface soil is affected by many environmental variables including parental material and soil properties, as well as by human activities such as industrial production, traffic farming and irrigation. Large areas of land can be contaminated by heavy metals released from smelters, waste incinerators, industrial waste water and from the application of sludge or municipal compost, pesticides and fertilizers. Irrespective of their sources in the soil, accumulation of heavy metals can degrade soil quality, reduce crop yield and the quality of agricultural products and thus negatively impact the health of human, animals and the ecosystem. Nagaiyoti et al 2010. It is important to identify the source of heavy metals, besides qualifying their concentrations and spatial variability.
Heavy metals are defined as elements in the periodic table having atomic number more than 20 or having densities more than 5g/cm3. The environmental burden with heavy metal are that they are non-degradable and most of the have toxic effect on living organisms when they exceeded a certain concentration level either in water, soil or food substances Hong et al. 2014. Heavy metal contamination level in agricultural soil are of major significance because of the potential to accumulate in soil for a long period of time. Iwegbue et al 2013. High concentration of metal ions in oil environment may pose a significant risk to the quality of soils, plants natural waters and human health Wu and Zhang, 2010. Excessive accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils may result not only in soil contamination but also consequences for food quality and public health safety issues. Evidence of heavy metal contamination/pollution of agricultural soils and uptake of the heavy metals in vegetables and fruits in Romania and Brazil were reported by Lacadusu, 2008; Guerra et al 2012. They further added that toxic effects of some heavy metals in vegetables like Cu and Pb focus on several human body organs such as liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs causing a variety of biochemical defects. Therefore it is essential to monitor the heavy metal contamination/pollution levels of sewage irrigated soil of Geriyo catchment area in order to reduce the possible transfer of metals into irrigated crops and the potential of heavy metal contamination of ground water reserve in this areas.
1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim and objectives of the study are;
To assess the level of heavy metals in polluted soil from Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area Rivers State Nigeria.
To summarize our present knowledge of the assessment of the levels of heavy metals in a polluted soil from Soku Community.
To compare the concentration of heavy metals in the soil samples from the place of study which is Soku Community with WHO set limits.
To determine the concentration of heavy metals in the polluted soil in Soku Community and carryout health risk assessment also.
1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Oil spillage has caused so much damage to the Riverine area of the State and Nigeria in general, most especially to fishermen and farmers.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study which is being carried out on the assessment of the levels of heavy metals in polluted soils from Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area Rivers State, is bound to be of immense benefits to people around this community most especially the fishermen and women from neighbouring communities too.
The assessment of the levels of heavy metals in polluted soil from Soku will help to ascertain how dangerous and harmful it is to human and animals.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is focused on the assessment of the levels of heavy metals in polluted soils from Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area Rivers State Nigeria.
Complete Material Cost #3,000
Order for Complete Material now