DETERMINATION OF THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND HEAVY METALS CONTENT OF SOIL AROUND SELECTED METALURGICAL WORKSHOPS IN MINNA

Abstract

This study investigated the physicochemical properties and heavy metals content around some metallurgical workshops in Minna metropolis Nigeria, using standard analytical methods. The pH, electrical conductivity and texture of the sampled soils and the concentrations of heavy metals which include Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Fe, and Zn were determined. The pH of the soils in all the sampling sites ranged from 6.83±0.14 to 8.93±0.18, which implied that the soil were neutral to slightly alkaline. The soil electrical conductivity ranged from 25.00±13.23 to 78.33±2.89μs/cm and the textural characteristics of the soil samples collected were sandy-loamy for all the sampling sites. The results obtained for heavy metals analysed were Cu (4.83±2.75 to 12.50±3.50 μg/g); Cr (7.83±2.25 to 22.00±5.77 μg/g), Ni (14.33±12.43 to 27.33±3.51 μg/g), Fe (58.17±12.07 to 77.50±2.50 μg/g), Zn (9.00±2.78 to 16.50 ±3.77 μg/g) while Cd and Pb were below detection limit in all the sampling sites. The concentrations of all the metals in the entire sampling sites were below the NYSDEC standard of heavy metals in soil. The concentration of heavy metals obtained in this study does not pose harm to human health but constant monitoring is recommended.