DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS’ POLLUTION FROM MOTOR PARKS’ SOILS OF GOMBE METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Heavy metals are regarded as the most concerned of the pollutant in many environments today
because of the presence of industries, markets, motor parks, mining and other human activities.
The study determined the heavy metals pollution in the uppermost soils of urban Motor Park
in Gombe metropolis. Random sampling techniques were used in collecting the samples in all
the sample points at each of the four packs and the control sides. A mass concentration profiles
of 15 elements (Sn, Sb, Ag, Cr, Cd, Zr, Co, Rb, As, Rb, Ag, Sr, Bi, Se, W, and V) were
established from the soil using Niton X-ray Fluorescence Techniques (NXRF). The degrees of
heavy metal contamination in soils were calculated using selected pollution indices Geoaccumulation
index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), with reference to geochemical background
enrichment factor. The lowest to the highest mean ranges of Zirconium, Silicon, Antimony,
Cadmium, Arsenic, cobalt, chromium, and Rubidium were found to be 54.54 ppm – 473.74
ppm, 1646 ppm -1478897 ppm, 2.43 ppm – 5.51 ppm, 1.32 ppm – 461ppm, 0.5 ppm – 1.00
ppm, 36.07 ppm – 21.01 ppm, 12.92 ppm – 17.72 ppm, 8.82 ppm - 136.06 ppm, and 3.58 –
35.54 ppm respectively, with a mean of 218.5 ppm, 5171.07 ppm, 3.9 ppm, 1.63 ppm, 1.30
ppm, 42.69 ppm, 6.13 ppm, 31.39 ppm, 7.97 ppm, 39.66 ppm in given order above. The results
indicated that surface soils of Gombe Urban motor packs were moderately polluted by
particulates containing Cd, Cr, Zr, Ag, Rb, Sn, Zr, Ag and As. Contamination with As, Ag, Sn,
Sb, Co, and Sr was moderate (Igeo >4 and PLI>1). These metals may cause harmful effects on
the populace using or earning their daily living in those areas. The pre-industrial activities such
as improper disposal of toxic lubricants, heaps of metals scraps, electronic waste, and
sanitization of vehicles that might have transported agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers,
pesticides, and herbicides are important causative agents for releasing heavy metals on the
studied areas.