Assessment of Air Quality, Physicochemical Characteristics and Heavy Metal Conditions of Soil and Waters of Ogbe-Okwe Gully Erosion in Ukwu Nzu in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the air quality and physicochemical conditions of soils and water of Ogbe-Okwe gully in Ukwu-Nzu, Delta State of Nigeria. Air quality after analysis with AeroQual Series 500 Air Sampler showed that Total Suspended Particulate ranged from 15.43 - 28.55 µg/m³, Nitrogen dioxide (0.00 ± 0.0 - 0.01 ± 0.0 µg/m³), Sulphur dioxide (0.00 ± 0.0 - 0.27 ± 0.0 µg/m³), Ozone (0.00 ± 0.0 - 0.01 ± 0.0 µg/m³), Volatile Organic Compounds (0.010 ± 0.0 - 0.61 ± 0.0 µg/m³), Carbon monoxide (0.010 ± 0.0 - 0.01 ± 0.0 µg/m³) and Methane (0.010 ± 0.0 - 0.01 ± 0.0 µg/m³). Physicochemical characteristics of soils samples showed that clay ranged from 24.00 ± 1.92 - 36.00 ± 2.96 %, silt (24.00 ± 1.92 - 33.00 ± 2.83 %), sand (33.00 ± 2.83 - 51.00 ± 3.89 %). pH ranged from 6.70 ± 0.50 - 7.88 ± 0.93, organic matter (0.91 ± 0.37 - 2.00 ± 1.00 %), organic carbon (0.51 ± 0.25 - 0.89 ± 0.37 %) and total nitrogen (0.01 ± 0.00 - 0.05 ± 0.00 %).  Electrical conductivity ranged from 4.12 ± 1.45 - 4.81 ± 0.36 µS/cm, available phosphorus (150.00 ± 5.00 - 180.00 ± 5.74 mg/kg), total exchangeable bases (1.60 ± 0.42 - 1.99 ± 0.69 cmol/kg), calcium (1.20 ± 0.15 - 1.22 ± 0.17 mg/kg), magnesium (0.40 ± 0.00 - 0.51 ± 0.10 mg/kg), sodium (0.02 ± 0.00 - 0.05 ± 0.00 mg/kg) and potassium (0.04 ± 0.03 - 0.08 ± 0.00 mg/kg).  In soil samples, cadmium values ranged from 0.16±0.13 - 0.30±0.13mg/kg, Lead (1.26 ± 0.33 - 3.50 ± 0.51mg/kg), Zinc (25.12 ± 2.82 - 79.02 ± 3.29 mg/kg), Copper (27.89 ± 2.49 - 63.08 ± 3.68 mg/kg), Iron (191.16 ± 5.07 - 212.16 ± 5.92 mg/kg) and Manganese (10.80 ± 0.49 - 18.00 ± 0.81 mg/kg). The results obtained from this study showed high levels of heavy metals. It is very necessary for government to enact very strict laws that would help minimize the adverse effect of these activities.