Pb and Cu contaminations of soils of occupation sites from Bida in Niger State, Nigeria. International Journal of Chemical Sciences

Abstract

Contents of lead and copper in soils of five occupation sites that include storage battery repair, car radiator repair, welding, car spray painting and car repair within Bida Niger State were determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry technique. The lowest and the highest Pb mean concentrations of 32 mgkg-1 and 2181 mgkg-1 were respectively from car repair and storage battery repair locations. The Cu concentration varied from 1.2 ngkg-1 in car repair site to 929 mgkg-1 in car radiator repair site. The obtained results from this study have shown that there is still need for constant monitoring of heavy metal levels in soils of urban occupational sites particularly in developing nations. This is because of the location of these sites within residential areas on order to access their possible potential hazard to life and environment.