Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry

Assessment of Heavy Metals Level of Soils around Sacks and Packaging Company, Akwanga Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Emmanuel Amuntse Yerima, Raymond Bwano Donatus, Ifeoma Juliet Opara, Godwin Ogbaji Egah and Joseph Dennis Ani

Increasing industrial activity around the world has left behind large number of contaminants such as heavy metals which can easily get into food chain and bio-cumulate in tissues of living organism with detrimental effect. This study was carried out to assess the impact of activities in a sack production and packaging company on the level of heavy metal on soils around the industrial layout. The results obtained from the soil analysis reveals that the pH, organic carbon and organic matter content of the test and control soils were (8.40 ± 0.20 and 8.51 ± 0.01), (1.76 ± 0.030 and 0.92 ± 0.02%) and (3.03 ± 0.33 and 0.55 ± 0.05%) respectively. While the available phosphorus content, nitrogen and effective cation exchange capacity of the test and control soil samples were (3.62 ± 0.02 and 4.11 ± 0.10%), (0.251 ± 0.01 and 0.078 ± 0.001%) and (65.59 ± 0.05 and 14.78 ± 0.01 Meq/100 g) respectively which were within the limits of normal agronomical soil. The mean ± standard deviation of heavy metal concentrations in the test and control soil were Fe (4625.32 ± 0.252 mg/kg and 3676.44 ± 0.57 mg/kg), Ni (48.20 ± 0.128 mg/kg and 27.50 ± 0.11 mg/kg) Co (36.85 ± 0.046 mg/kg and 37.05 ± 0.044 mg/kg) and Pb (321.45 ± 0.038 mg/kg and 174.23 ± 0.088 mg/kg) respectively where the mean concentrations of the heavy metals in the soil are in the order: Fe>Pb>Ni>Co while Cd and Cr were below detection limit. The impact of the industrial activities determines using indices such as Geo-accumulation index and contamination factor indicates high contamination of the soil with lead, a non-essential element responsible for lead poisoning. Also, the statistical analysis showed a general significant difference between the mean content of heavy metal between the soil around the industry and the soil around the control site suggesting that metal enrichment is likely due to anthropogenic activity since the metal level in the test soil were generally higher with the exception of cobalt.