Impact of land-use patterns on chemical properties of trace elements in soils of rural, semi-urban, and urban zones of the Niger Delta, Nigeria
Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
Iwegbue, C.M.A., Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria; Nwajei, G.E., Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, P.M.B. 1, Abraka, Nigeria; Eguavoen, O.I., Department of Chemistry, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria
The study of the concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu in soils under different land uses in rural, semi-urban, and urban zones in the Niger Delta was carried out with a view to providing information on the effects of the different land uses on the concentrations of trace elements in soils. Our results indicate significant variability in concentrations of these metals in soils under different land uses in rural, semi-urban, and urban zones. The maximum concentrations of metals in the examined soil samples were 707.5 mg.kg -1, 161.0 mg.kg -1, 2.6 mg.kg -1, 59.6 mg.kg -1, 1061.3 mg.kg -1, and 189.2 mg.kg -1 for Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu, respectively. In the rural zone, the cassava processing mill is a potent source of Ni, Cr, Cu, and Zn while agricultural activities are a source of Cd, and automobile emissions and the use of lead oxide batteries constitute the major sources of Pb. In the urban zone, soils around the wood processing mill showed elevated concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, and Ni, while soils around automobile mechanic works and motor parks showed elevated levels of Pb. Elevated Cd concentrations were observed in soils under the following land uses: urban motor park, playground, welding and fabrication sheds, and metallic scrap dump. The contamination/pollution index of metals in the soil follows the order: Ni > Cd > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb. The multiple pollution index of metals at different sites were greater than 1, indicating that these soils fit into "slight pollution" to "excessive pollution" ranges with significant contributions from Cr, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Cu. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Agricultural activities; Anthropogenic activity; Automobile emission; Cd concentrations; Elements in soil; Elevated concentrations; Elevated level; Land-use patterns; Niger Delta; Nigeria; Pollution index; Soil sample; Surface soil; Urban zones; Wood processing; Cadmium; Chemical properties; Copper; Heavy metals; Land use; Lead; Metals; Soils; Zinc; Soil pollution; Manihot esculenta