Heavy metal content of the soil in the vicinity of the united cement factory in Southern Nigeria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Cement dust deposition on soil has been implicated in the heavy metal (HM) contamination of soil, leading to adverse effects on plants and humans. This study assessed the impact of cement dust deposition on the HM content of the soil samples in the vicinity of a cement factory and its implication on the public health of the host community. Topsoil samples were collected at varying distances and directions in the vicinity of the cement factory and a remote area to the factory (control). The Pb, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Se, Cr, Zn, and As content of the soil samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The HM content of the soil samples in the studied locations were within the safe limits, except for Zn, which was higher in the samples closest to the factory. The levels of Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr were significantly higher in the samples closest to the factory compared to the other locations (P<0.05). Moderate contamination with Cu and Pb and considerable contamination with Cr were observed in the samples closest to the factory. The HM content of the soil samples of all the locations demonstrated minimal enrichment (EF<2) and average pollution index (1<IPI≤2). Cement production is associated with the exacerbation of the HM contamination of the surrounding soil, with the degree of contamination depending on the distance from the factory. Moderate soil contamination with HM poses potential risk of deleterious public health effects if appropriate remediation strategies are not implemented.

Keywords

References

1. Moslempour ME, Shahdadi S. Assessment of heavy metal contamination in soils around of Khash Cement Plant, SE Iran. Iran J Earth Sci 2013; 5(2): 111-118.
2. Ujoh F, Alhassan MM. Oxides and heavy metals concentration around a cement plant at Yandev, Central Nigeria. Int J Plant Soil Sci 2014; 3(6): 777-789.
3. Al-Omran AM, El-Maghraby SE, Nadeem MAE, El-Eter AM, Al-Qahtani SMI. Impact of cement dust on some soil properties around the cement factory in Al-Hasa Oasis, Saudi Arabia. American-Eurasian J Agric  Environ Sci 2011; 11(6): 840-846.
4. Singh J, Kalamdhad AS. Effects of heavy metals on soil, plants, human health and aquatic life. Int J Res Chem Environ 2011; 1(2): 15-21.
5. Wufem BM, Ibrahim AQ, Maina HM, Gungsat NJ, Nvau J. The impacts of cement dust deposits on soil available micronutrients. Int J Sci Eng Appl 2014; 3(4): 53-62.
6. Egbe ER, Nsonwu-Anyanwu AC, Offor SJ, Usoro CAO, Etukudo MH, Egbe DI. Cement dust exposure and perturbations in some elements and lung and liver functions of cement factory workers. J Toxicol 2016; 2016:1-7.
7. He Z, Shentu J, Yang X, Baligar VC,  Zhang T, Stoffella PJ. Heavy metal contamination of soils: sources, indicators, and assessment. Journal of Environmental Indicators 2015; 9:17-18.
8. United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).Supplemental guidance for developing soil screening levels for superfund sites. Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Washington, D.C. 2002. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/health/conmedia/soil/index.htm
9. Ehsanul K, Sharmila R, Ki-Hyun K, Hye-On Y, Eui-Chan J, Yoon SK, et al. Current status of trace metal pollution in soils affected by industrial activities. Scientific World Journal 2012; 2012:1-18.
10. Lameed GA. Environmental impact assessment of cement factory production on biodiversity: a case study of UNICEM Calabar Nigeria. World J Biol Res 2008; 1: 1–7.
11. Association of official analytical chemists (AOAC).Official methods of analysis of the AOAC, Methods 932.06, 925.09, 985.29, 923.03. 15th ed. Association of official analytical chemists. Arlington, VA, USA, 1990.
12. Everson M E. Spectrophotometric techniques. In: Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, eds. Tietz textbook of Clinical Chemistry, 3rd ed, Philaelphia, W. B. Saunders Co. 1999:75-93.
13. Baran A, Wieczorek J. Application of geochemical and ecotoxicity indices for assessment of heavy metals content in soils. Arch Environ Prot 2015; 41(2):54–63.
14. Müller G. Index of geo-accumulation in sediments of the Rihne River. Geojournal 1969; 2: 108–118.
15. Loska K, Wiechula D, Barska B, Cebula E, Chojnecka A. Assessment of arsenic enrichment of cultivated soils in Southern Poland. Pol J Environ Stud 2003; 12(2): 187–192.
16. Duzgoren-Aydin NS, Wong CSC, Aydin A, Song Z, You M, Li XD. Heavy metal contamination and distribution in the urban environment of Guangzhou, SE China. Environ Geochem Health 2006; 28: 375-391.
17. Wei B, Yang L. A review of heavy metal contaminations in urban soils, urban road dusts and agriculture soils from China. Microchem J 2010; 94: 99–107.
18. Håkanson L. An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control-a sedimentological approach. Water Res 1980; 14: 975-1001.
19. WHO. Safety evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants. International Programme on Chemical Safety. WHO Food Additive, 2000: Series 52.
20. Codex Alimentarius Commission. Joint FAO/WHO Food additives and contaminants. Joint FAO/WHO food Standards program 2001: ALINORM 01/12A: 1-289.
21. USEPA. Human health risk assessment guidiance. based concentration. Department of Environmental Quality Environmental Cleanup Program. 2010. https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterDocs/HumanHealthRiskAssessmentGuidance.
22. Codex Alimentarious Commission. Joint FAO/WHO food standards programme. Codex General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Foods 1969: Doc No.Cx/FAC 96/17.
23. WHO/FAO. Joint FAO/WHO Food Standard Programme Codex Alimentarius Commission. Report of the Thirty Eight Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene, Houston, United States of America 2007: ALINORM 07/ 30/13.
24. Al-Khashman  AO, Shawabkeh AR. Metal distribution in soils around the cement factory in Southern Jordan. Environ Pollut 2006; 140(3): 387–394.
25. Okoro HK, Orimolade BO, Adebayo GB, Akande BA, Ximba BJ, Ngila JC. An Assessment of heavy metals contents in the soil around a cement factory in Ewekoro, Nigeria using pollution indices. Pol J Environ Stud 2017; 26(1): 221-228.
26. Rout GR, Das P. Effect of metal toxicity on plant growth and metabolism: I. Zinc. Agronomie,  EDP Sciences, 2003: 23 (1): 3-11.
27. Wyszkowska J, Borowik A, Kucharski M, Kucharski J. Effect of cadmium, copper and zinc on plants, soil microorganisms and soil enzymes. J Elem 2013; 18(4): 769–796
28. Schuhmacher M, Bocio A, Agramunt MC, Domingo JL, de Kok HAM. PDCC/F and metal concentration in soil and herbage samples collected in the vicinity of a cement plant. Chemosphere 2002; 48: 209-217.
29. Ogunkunle CO, Fatoba PD.  Pollution load and ecological risk assessment of soil heavy metals around a mega cement factory in southwest Nigeria. Pol J Environ Stud 2013; 22(2): 47-493.
30. Adekola FA, Inyinbor AA, Abdul Raheem AMO. Heavy metals distribution and speciation in soils around a mega cement factory in North-central Nigeria. Ethiop J Environ Stud Manag 2012; 5(1): 11-19.
31. Mandal A, Voutchkov M.  Heavy metals in soils around the cement factory in Rockfort, Kingston, Jamaica. Int J  Geosciences 2012; 2: 48-54.
32. Facchinelli A, Sacchi E, Mallen L. Multivariate statistical and GIS–based approach to identify heavy metal sources in soils. Environ Pollut 2001; 114: 313-324.
33. Guala SD, Vega FA, Covelo EF. The dynamics of heavy metals in plant–soil interactions. Ecol Modell 2010; 221:1148– 1152.
34. Lugauskas A, Levinskaite L, Peèiulte D, Repeèkienë J, Motuzas A, Vaisvalavièius R, et al. Effect of copper, zinc and lead acetates on microorganisms in soil. Ekologija 2005;1:61-69.
35. Paul A, Wauters G, Paul AK. Nickel tolerance and accumulation by bacteria from rhizosphere of nickel hyperaccumulatores in serpentine soil ecosystem of Andaman, India. Plant Soil 2007; 293(1-2): 37-48.
Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research
Volume 7, Issue 2
April 2019
Pages 122-130

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics