Evaluating the Concentration of Pb, Hg, Co, V, As, Fe, Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn and their Potential Sources in Soil from Two Abattoirs in Itu and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Inorganic contaminants which consist of toxic metals and salts are notable for their wide environmental dispersion and their tendency to accumulate in the tissues of the human body. Heavy metals are the major inorganic contaminants in abattoir soils. These metals, even at relatively low concentrations, are toxic. Hence the objective of this paper was to determine the concentration of Pb, Hg, Co, V, As, Fe, Cu, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Zn and their potential sources of pollution in soil from two abattoirs in Itu and Ikot Ekpene Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods after the dry oxidation. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The distribution of heavy metals contaminants in the Itu abattoir was of the order Hg < As < V < Cr < Co < Mn < Ni < Pb < Cd < Cu < Zn < Fe, while that of the Ikot Ekpene abattoir was Hg < As < Co < V < Cr < Mn < Pb < Ni < Cd < Cu < Zn < Fe. The mean order obtained for both abattoirs was Hg < As < V < Cr < Co < Mn < Ni < Pb < Cd < Cu < Zn < Fe. The results were subjected to some pollution indices to ascertain the level of ecological impacts on both plants and animals ecosystem around the abattoirs. The contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, degree of contamination, and pollution load index depict no pollution. Generally, all metals investigated were below the permissible limits of DUTCH, FEPA, WHO/FAO, and NESREA.