Investigation of Distribution Pattern and Variation of Heavy Metals in Roadside along Okigwe Metropolis
[1]
Christopher I. A. Nwoko, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state Nigeria.
[2]
Eze C. Akanzu, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state Nigeria.
[3]
Cynthia E. Ogukwe, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo state Nigeria.
This study investigates the distribution pattern and variation of heavy metals in roadside along Okigwe metropolis, Imo State, South-East Nigeria. Determination of the heavy metals (Cd, Mn, Pb, As, Cr, Fe and Zn) were done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The results indicated that there are heavy metal concentrations in Okigwe metropolis. The mean concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb, As, Cr, Fe, and Zn in rainy season were 0.2863, 1.3876, 0.4775, 4.5138, 0.2720, 9.0795 and 0.4484 mg/kg respectively. While the mean concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb, As, Cr, Fe, and Zn in dry season were 0.3959, 3.0005, 0.5075, 4.8287, 0.8461, 8.6390 and 1.116 mg/kg respectively for AAS. Also the mean concentration of heavy metals with XRF were 0.1000, 15.9000, 14.0625, 6.6125, 23.7750, 43455.0000 and 5.4200 for rainy season and 0.1000, 17.0000, 14.9375, 7.4500, 24.1375, 44355.0000 and 6.290 for dry season. The mean concentration levels of the metals in roadside were comparable to those of other studies [1], [2], [3], [4]. Also, the result of the control analysis showed that the concentrations of the heavy metals at the roadsides were much higher than the control sample. The ANOVA analysis revealed a significant difference in the mean level of heavy metal concentrations in rainy and dry seasons by AAS (F=32.990;F=18.428,P<0.05) and XRF(F=57.992;F=57.266,<0.05). From the results, it was observed that samples analyzed with XRF have higher concentration than those of AAS. It was recommended therefore among others that an extensive awareness campaign on the adverse effect of pollution on the environment and the populace should be carried out.
Heavy Metals, Okigwe Metropolis, Roadside Soil, Distribution Pattern, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, X-Ray Fluorescence
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