Assessing Heavy Metal Distribution and Contamination of Soil in Ogere Trailer Terminal, Ogun State (Southwestern Nigeria)

Abstract

Soil contamination is an issue of growing concern largely due to the risk it poses to the safety of the environment. This study investigated heavy metals contamination of soils at Ogere trailer terminal along the busy Ibadan-Lagos express road, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory using standard techniques. Eighteen sampling sites were selected along the road as well as a control point located outside the influence of the haulage vehicle park. The concentration of nine different heavy metals: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) were assessed. Heavy metals concentration in the soil samples ranged from 0.20–9.60 mg/kg, 0.20–1.40 mg/kg, 0.20–0.25 mg/kg, 0.60–0.65 mg/kg, 0.65–1.65 mg/kg, 0.65–5.46 mg/kg, 0.76–3.13 mg/kg, 1.60–64.55 mg/kg, 0.80–43.25 mg/kg, and 12.0–65.0 mg/kg for Pb, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Hg and As respectively. Moreover, soil contamination levels were assessed by using the Accumulation Factor (AF) and the Integrated Pollution Index (IPI). The obtained results revealed significant positive relationship between various heavy metals concentration and their likewise with high concentration which makes the soils environmentally unfriendly. In this respect, a potential pollution risk exist which may consequentially have potential adverse impacts on the environment.