Affiliation:
1. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study assessed the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and surface water from a Lead-Zinc mined pit at Enyigba, Ikwo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected and analysed from different soil depths (0 – 15 cm) and (15 – 30 cm) at a tailing down (marked as TD) and refuse dumpsite (marked as RD) and a vegetation site 50 km away which was used as the control site. Surface water samples were collected from the Enyigba River from three (3) points (marked as point A, B, and C) and were analysed using routine laboratory procedures. The following parameters were analysed for soil: particle size distribution, pH, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, organic carbon, organic matter content, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, exchangeable acidity, and effective cation exchange capacity. The results for mean values of soil samples obtained at both depths were 58.86% (sand), 11.73% (silt) and 34.04% (clay). Mean values obtained for heavy metals from the soil for Iron (Fe) ranged from 3.31 to 2.24 mg/kg: Zinc (Zn) 0.70 to 0.62 mg/kg and Lead (Pb) 0.01 to 0.01 mg/kg). Results obtained for surface water around the mined pit showed mean values for Iron (Fe) 0.57 mg/L, Magnesium (Mg) 151.6 mg/L, Calcium (Ca) 76.62 mg/L, Chlorine (Cl2) 416.6 mg/L and Lead (Pb) 0.01 mg/L. The high concentrations of chlorine make the water unsuitable to be discharged on any agricultural land as plants could accumulate these metals and when consumed could pose serious threat to humans. The discharge from the mining site increased the already slightly high turbidity of the water to a much higher and undesirable level. The mining activity at Enyigba Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State has negatively impacted the environment through the introduction of heavy metals in soil and surface water, thereby causing an increase in the pollution of the environment. It is recommended that further studies and monitoring should be carried out in the study location for possible remediation.
Publisher
University of Benin - Faculty of Environmental Sciences
Subject
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law,Geography, Planning and Development
Reference32 articles.
1. Afiukwa, J. N., Arua, S. N. and Bekie, J. I. (2009). Heavy Metals analysis of some Drinking Water sources and the Status of Water-Related Disease Cases in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Journal of Research Studies in Physical Sciences. 5(3), pp. 98-103.
2. Ahmad, I., Hayat, S., Ahmad, A., Inam, A. and Samiullah, I. (2005). Effect of heavy metal on survival of certain groups of Indigenous soil microbial population. Journal of Applied Science and Environmental Management, 9, pp. 115-121.
3. Ali, H. and Khan, E. (2017). Environmental chemistry in the twenty-first century. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 15(2), pp. 329–346
4. APHA (1998). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th edition, Clesceri, L. S., Greenberg, A.E. and Eaton, A.D. (Editors), Washington DC. 1998.
5. Association of Analytical Chemistry (AOAC). (2005). Official Method of Analysis. 18th Edition, Washington DC, Method 935.14 and 992.24.