Assessment of Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Agricultural Soils around Kubanni Bridge area, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The level of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined from agricultural soil collected in Kubanni area of Zaria using standard methods. The result mean±SD of the heavy metals in the five study locations; (KP1- KP3) ranges from 4.05±0.18-1.25±0.32 for Lead, 4.43±0.11-0.03±0.01 for Cadmium,4.30±0.14 - 0.13±0.08 for Chromium, 3.32±0.25-1.03±0.13 for copper. And 1.80±0.01- 0.02±0.01 for Zinc.  The results of the persistent organic pollutants in the five study locations KP1- KP3 showed the mean range (±SD) concentrations from7.08±0.02-0.13±0.01 (naphthalene), 7.00±0.08 - 0.02±0.01 (anthracene) and 7.31±0.21 - 0.02±0.01 (phenanthrene). There was appreciable number of heavy metals and PAH in the study area even though it was found to be below the permissible level set by United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in most of the locations. There is the tendency of these residues from the soil to accumulate into crops grown in the studied area, which can constitute serious health risk.