Environmental Impact of Abandoned Asphalt Production Site on Soil, Water and Vegetables from Near Farmlands

A. U.  Itodo; R. A.  Wuana; M.  Ubimago

doi:10.4236/gep.2018.64007

A. U. Itodo¹^*, M. Ubimago^1,2, R. A. Wuana¹

Abstract: An environmental investigation of soil, water and vegetable around Asphalt production plant for heavy metals; Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni) and Chromium (Cr) was carried out. Their mean concentrations in soil, water and vegetable were Zn (13.84 mg/Kg, 12.949 mg/L and 11.177 mg/Kg), Mg (3.728 mg/Kg, 0.125 mg/L and 21.837 mg/Kg), Cd (0.012 mg/Kg, 0.018 mg/L and 0.028 mg/Kg) and Pb (0.011 mg/Kg). Co, Ni and Cr were not detected. The results of physiocochemical parameters (pH, moisture content (%), conductivity (μS/cm), organic matter (%), organic carbon (%), CEC (cmol/Kg) and soil composition (%)) were all within the permissible limits by NAFDAC and NDWQS. Results of mineral composition of soil include (N (%) of 0.42, K (cmol/kg) 0.32, Na (cmol/kg) 0.28, Mg (cmol/kg) 3.40, Ca (cmol/kg) 3.80,

(cmol/kg) 0.46 and

(cmol/kg) 0.49); analytical results were within the acceptable range. The chemical parameters investigated for water samples are (Cl^&#45 (mg/L) = 1871.20,

(mg/L) = 12.60,

(mg/L) = 10.20, NH₃ (mg/L) = 8.20, DO (mg/L) = 9.40, BOD (mg/L) = 6.40 and COD (mg/L) = 12.80) within agricultural farmlands around the Asphalt production plant. From the analytical results, conductivity (μS/cm), N (%),

(mg/L) were significantly different (p < 0.05) from the reference control samples. Contamination factors and Geoaccumulation index for Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd and Ni in the areas under investigation were computed. The overall study revealed that the vegetable is currently polluted with Zn and biochemical

which are also the predominant mineral composition in the soil.

Keywords: Environment, Asphalt, Soil, Water, Vegetables, Farmland

Cite this paper: Itodo, A. , Ubimago, M. and Wuana, R. (2018) Environmental Impact of Abandoned Asphalt Production Site on Soil, Water and Vegetables from Near Farmlands. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 6, 107-122. doi: 10.4236/gep.2018.64007.

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