Heavy Metal Contents in Topsoil of Selected Public Primary Schools Playground in Benin Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine some physicochemical properties and heavy metals level in primary school playground located in Benin City, Southern Nigeria using standard methods. A total of 10 topsoil samples were collected from five primary school playgrounds from different locations in Benin metropolis, Southern Nigeria in February, 2017. The mean levels of pH and EC ranged from 5.53 to 7.02 and 200.05 - 410.00 µS/cm respectively. The mean concentrations for heavy metals ranged from 337.15±64.28 and 464.10±19.37 for Fe, 23.40±7.50 and 29.70±4.81 for Mn, 45.95±8.70 and 67.95±4.74 for Zn, 8.48±1.61 and 12.90±3.82 for Cu, 5.10±2.33 and 7.41±1.54 for Cd, 4.42±2.02 and 8.39±7.09 for Cr, 6.17±2.82 and 13.82±6.76 for Pb, 0.99±0.09 and3.24±3.73 for Ni respectively. Heavy metal concentrations were in the following order. In Ogiegbaen, Eresoyen and Ekosodin Primary schools (PS) playground, the order was Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cd> Cr> Ni while the order in Agbado PS and Olua PS were Fe> Zn> Mn> Cu> Pb> Cr> Cd> Ni and Fe> Zn> Mn> Pb> Cu> Cd> Cr> Ni respectively. Enrichment factor (EF), Contamination factor (CF) and Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) were used to evaluate the pollution status of the soil.

Keywords: Topsoil, Playground, Heavy metals, Assessment Indices