Environmental Studies Journal
Volume 1, No. 1, 2022
Pages 14-35
DOI: 10.36108/esj/2202.10.0120
Heavy metal contamination, pollution indices and health risk assessment of soil around an asphalt production company in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria
OLU, Joshua1, YUSUF, Hajara Oyiza.2, AKHIGBE Charity Irekpita.3, ABIAMERE Oluchi Cynthia 2
1Faculty of Environmental Science, Nasarawa State University, Keffi
2National Biotechnology Development Agency, Environmental Biotechnology and Bio conservation Department, Along Musa Yar’adua Expressway, Airport Road, Lugbe, Abuja
3 Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja
*Corresponding Author- Email: olu@lujosh.com Orcid No: http://orcid,org/0000-0002-5865-3640
Abstract
In the environment, heavy metal contamination tends to be ecologically important considering its toxicity and pollution of the soil. It constitutes some levels of risks and hazards to humans and the ecosystem. This study assessed the heavy metal contamination, pollution indices and associated health risk of soil around an asphalt production company. A total of 13 soil samples were obtained around asphalt plant. The heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), cobalt (Co) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed. Also determined were the contamination factor (CF), cancer risk (CR), degree of contamination (DC), ecological risk index (ERI), Geo-accumulation index (Igeo), hazard index (HI), lifetime cancer risk (LCR), Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI), pollution load index (PLI), pollution index (PI) and target hazard quotient (THQ), and they were used in estimating pollution and health risk. The ranges of Cd, Pb, Co, Fe and Zn in the samples were: 0.006-0.11, 0.09-0.34, 0.06-0.22, 0.09-184.41 and 0.39-3.15 mg/kg respectively. The Igeo, CF, ERI, PLI, DC, NIPI and PI values of the metals were within uncontaminated level. The metals THQ and HI values were lesser than the projected limit for both adults and children. The soils’ Co, Cd and Pb did not exceed tolerable CR and LCR value of 1.0×10-4. It could be suggested that the Asphalt production company activities is not contaminating the soil around them.
Keywords: Environmental Health assessment, Heavy Metals, Pollution indices, Soil, Toxicity