Pollution Profile and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Dumpsites in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Pollution Profile and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Dumpsites in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria Franklyn O. Ohiagu1 · Kelechi C. Lele1 · Paul C. Chikezie1 · Andrew W. Verla2 · Christian E. Enyoh2 Received: 8 July 2020 / Accepted: 29 October 2020 © The Tunisian Chemical Society and Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract The present study quantified and characterized the pollution status and ecological risk as well as sources of heavy metals in soil samples collected from active dumpsites in Onne, Rivers State Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from four designated points in the study areas and heavy metals concentrations, namely; lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were measured using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The pollution status assessment, sources of heavy metals pollution and ecological risk parameters were determined using standard models, namely; Contamination Factor (CF), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Potential Ecological Risk Factor (PERF) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI). The results showed that the heavy metals concentrations (mg/kg) in soil samples from the active dumpsites were Pb: 2.54 ± 1.00, Co: 8.17 ± 1.96, Cd: 7.54 ± 4.40, Zn: 16.46 ± 2.81, Ni: 12 ± 1.35, Cu: 14.79 ± 1.19, Mn: 13.95 ± 3.57, which was in the order; Zn > Cu > Mn > Ni > Co > Cd > Pb. The standard models showed that the study areas were highly contaminated and polluted with Cd. Furthermore, the sources of the Cd pollution in soil samples from active dumpsites in Onne, Rivers State Nigeria were more of anthropogenic activities than natural causes. Urgent steps should be taken by the government and other regulatory bodies to control human activities in the study areas that promote the release of Cd into the environment. Keywords Dumpsites · Ecological risk · Heavy metals · Pollution · Soil
1 Introduction Soil is a vital natural material for the sustenance of certain basic human needs such as food production and serves as a reservoir of natural resources. Alterations in the chemical and physical conditions of the soil affect agricultural * Paul C. Chikezie [email protected] Franklyn O. Ohiagu [email protected] Kelechi C. Lele [email protected] Andrew W. Verla [email protected] Christian E. Enyoh [email protected] 1
Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
Department of Chemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
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production as well as the quality of life and well-being of humans [1]. Soil is formed from the weathering of rocks and should be properly managed so as to ensure food security and mitigate environmental degradation, for the reason that the soil constituents can be easily damaged, washed and blown away [2]. The soil is a sink of heavy metals from various pollution sources [3]. Heavy metals are metallic elements of relatively high density, some of which are poisonous or toxic even at low concen
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