Lead, Copper and Zinc Levels in Soils along Kaduna-Zaria Highway, Nigeria

Abstract

Soil samples collected along the left (l) and right (r) sides of a heavy traffic Kaduna-Zaria highway were analysed for lead, copper and zinc using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Levels of lead, copper and zinc from sampled soils were found to be higher than the control samples collected 2 meters away from the highway. The mean concentration ranges of Pb (l), Pb (r), Cu (l), Cu (r), Zn (l) and Zn (r) in the samples are 23-121, 21-99, 40-156, 39-262, 30-118 and 30-162 ppm respectively. Statistical analysis showed positive correlation between the el ements analysed, however correlation is only partially significant between lead and zinc. Lead and zinc levels may be attributed to pollution emanating from automobile emission and contamination while copper level could be due to pollution from fungicides and insecticides.


KEYWORDS: Copper, lead, zinc, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry, soil pollution.

[Global Jnl Environ Sci Vol.1(1) 2002: 7-14]