Abstract
E-waste is a global environmental problem that must not be underestimated. To ascertain the environmental pollution status of electronic waste dumpsites, an assessment of seasonal variation in concentrations of heavy metals in the soils and plants in electronic waste dumpsites in Lagos metropolis was undertaken during the two major seasons (wet and dry seasons) in Nigeria. The soils and plants samples collected in August during the rainy season and December during the dry season were digested using aqua regia, a wet digestion method. The heavy metal concentrations were quantified with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) fitted with a hollow cathode lamp (Perkin-Elmer AA Analyst 200) using an air-acetylene flame. The soil samples and the plants analyzed were found to have high concentrations of heavy metals. All the plants analyzed were identified and classified as excluders and accumulators of heavy metals based on their shoot/root quotients. The results obtained experimentally were analyzed using statistical and multivariate techniques. The soil quality of the study area was evaluated using correlation factor, pollution load index, and geoaccumulation index. The heavy metal assessment in comparison with the EU and Canadian standards for both agricultural and residential soils showed that the e-waste dumping sites are highly polluted. The results obtained for both the soil and plants analyzed confirmed the great impact of the hazardous components of e-waste on the ecosystem.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Additional data will be provided on request by the corresponding author.
References
Adesokan, M. D., Adie, G. U., & Osibanjo, O. (2016). Soil pollution by toxic metals near E-waste recycling operations in Ibadan. Nigeria. Journal of Health Pollution, 6(11), 26–33.
Babu, B. R., Parande, A. K., & Basha, C. A. (2007). Electrical and electronic waste: A global environmental problem. Waste Management & Research, 25, 307–318.
Baker, A. J. (1981). Accumulators and excluders-strategies in the response of plants to heavy metals. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 3, 643–654.
CCME (CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT). (1991). Canadian environmental quality criteria for contaminated sites (Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the protection of Environmental and Human Health), 1–6.
Chibuike, G. U., & Obiora S. C. (2014). Heavy metal polluted soils: Effect on plants and bioremediation methods. Applied and Environmental Science, 2014, 1–12. Article ID 752708.
Cui, J., & Zhang, L. (2008). Metallurgical recovery of metals from electronic waste: A review. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 158, 228–256.
Devkota, B., & Schmidt, G. (2000). Accumulation of heavy metals in food plants and grasshoppers from the Taigetos Mountains, Greece. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 78, 85–91.
EEA (EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY). (2000). European soil quality standards.
ESG International Inc. (2002). Environmental quality standards for soil and land ESG 2002. Quantification of the exposure concentrations and toxicity of BTEX compounds in soil. Report prepared for the Soil Quality Guidelines Task Group, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. June 2002.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Council Directive EEC. (1991). Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.
Hakanson, L. (1980). An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control. A Sedimentological Approach. Water Res, 14(8), 975–1001.
Hilty, L. M. (2005). Electronic waste—An emerging risk? Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 5, 431–435.
Huang, J., Nkrumah, P. N., Anim, D. O., & Mensah, E. (2014). E-waste disposal effects on the aquatic environment: Accra. Springer.
Kang, H. Y., & Schoenung, J. M. (2005). Electronic waste recycling: A review of US infrastructure and technology options. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 45, 368–400.
Kiddee, P., Naidu, R., & Wong, M. H. (2013). Electronic waste management approaches: An overview. Waste Management, 33, 1237–1250.
Kumar, P., & Fulekar, M. H. (2019). Multivariate and statistical approaches for the evaluation of heavy metals pollution at e-waste dumping sites. SN Applied Sciences, 1, 1506.
Kwiatkowska-Malina, J. (2018). Functions of organic matter in polluted soils: The effect of organic amendments on phytoavailability of heavy metals. Applied Soil Ecology, 123, 542–545.
LAERD STATISTICS. (2020). Pearson's product moment correlation. Statistical tutorials and software guides. Retrieved July 3, 2021 from https://statistics.laerd.com/statistical-guides/pearson-correlation-coefficient-statistical.gov.php
Lo, K. S. L., Yang W. F., Lin Y. C. (2008). Effects of organic matter on the specific adsorption of heavy metals by soil. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 34, 2–4.
Manhart, A., Osibanjo, O., Aderinto, A., & Prakash, S. (2011). Informal e-waste management in Lagos, Nigeria–Socio-economic impacts and feasibility of inter-national recycling co-operations. Final Report of Component, 3, 1–129.
Muller, G. (1981). The heavy metal pollution of the sediments of neckars and its tributary: A stocktaking. Chemiker Zeitung, 105, 157–164.
Nnorom, I. C., Osibanjo, O., & Nnorom, S. O. (2007). Achieving resource conservation in electronic waste management: A review of options available to developing countries. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7, 2918–2933.
Ogunseitan, O. A., Schoenung, J. M., Saphores, J.-D.M., & Shapiro, A. A. (2009). The electronics revolution: From e-wonderland to e-wasteland. Science, 326, 670–671.
Olafisoye, O. B., Adefioye, T., & Osibote, O. A. (2013). Heavy metals contamination of water, soil, and plants around an electronic waste dumpsite. Polish journal of environmental studies, 22.
Onwughara, N., Nnorom, I., Kanno, O., & Chukwuma, R. (2010). Disposal methods and heavy metals released from certain electrical and electronic equipment wastes in Nigeria: Adoption of environmental sound recycling system. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 1, 290.
Rhodes, E., Kamara, P., & Sutton, P. (1981). Walkley-Black digestion efficiency and relationship to loss on ignition for selected Sierra Leone soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 45, 1132–1135.
Sleutel, S., de Neve, S., Singier, B., & Hofman, G. (2007). Quantification of organic carbon in soils: A comparison of methodologies and assessment of the carbon content of organic matter. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 38, 2647–2657.
Song, Q., & Li, J. (2014). Environmental effects of heavy metals derived from the e-waste recycling activities in China: A systematic review. Waste Management, 34, 2587–2594.
Sullivan, J. (2014). Trash or treasure: Global trade and the accumulation of e-waste in Lagos, Nigeria. Africa Today, 61, 89–112.
Sun, B., Zhao, F., Lombi, E., & McGrath, S. (2001). Leaching of heavy metals from contaminated soils using EDTA. Environmental Pollution, 113, 111–120.
Sutherland, R. A., (2002). Comparison between non-residual Al Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn released by a three-step sequential extraction procedure and a dilute hydrochloric acid leach for soil and road deposited sediment. Applied Geochemistry, 17, 353–365.
Tisdale, S. L., Nelson, W. L., & Beaton, J. D. (1985). Soil fertility and fertilizers, Collier Macmillan Publishers.
Tokumaru, T. (2015). Determination of the extent of pollution in soils, water bodies and human hair at the e-waste recycling sites in Ghana. Activity report of field research. Global leadership training programme in Africa, 1–13.
Yadav, S. K. (2009). Heavy metals toxicity in plants: An overview on the role of glutathione and phytochelatins in heavy metal stress tolerance of plants. SA. J Botany, 76(2), 167–179.
Yahaya, M., Mohammad, S., & Abdullahi, B. (2009). Seasonal variations of heavy metals concentration in abattoir dumping site soil in Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 13.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olusegun, O.A., Osuntogun, B. & Eluwole, T.A. Assessment of heavy metals concentration in soils and plants from electronic waste dumpsites in Lagos metropolis. Environ Monit Assess 193, 582 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09307-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09307-4