ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Pollution Loads and the Ecological Risk
Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals around a Mega
Cement Factory in Southwest Nigeria
Clement Oluseye Ogunkunle, Paul Ojo Fatoba
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Department of Plant Biology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2013;22(2):487-493
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ABSTRACT
Cement production is noted for particulate pollution of the environment because of high dust emissions
and heavy metals that later deposited in soils, serving as a sink. This study aimed to assess the concentrations
and potential ecological risk of heavy metals around a mega cement factory in southwest Nigeria. Soil samples
were randomly collected in the eastern, western, and southern axes of the factory. The samples were subjected
to Nitric-perchloric acid digestion, and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine
the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cd, Cr, and Zn. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Duncan Multiple Range
Test. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Cr (666.1 mg/kg, 613.4 mg/kg, 547.9
mg/kg, and 188.5 mg/kg, respectively) were above the international standard limits. Nemerow pollution
indices, according to the axes, indicated serious pollution with heavy metals. The Single Potential Ecological
Risk Index (PERI) showed that soil contamination from Cd in the 3 axes had very high potential ecological
risk, which translated into the high value of Comprehensive Potential Ecological Risk (RI) value (11,488.3)
for the entire study area. The urgent need for the bioremediation of the soil around the cement factory, especially
for Cd, is needed to avert a potential environmental disaster.