Comparative study on the concentration of heavy-duty trucks and small motor vehicles soot in Lafia metropolis, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Soot samples from Heavy Duty Trucks (HDT) and Small Motor Vehicles (SMV) exhaust were investigated for the presence of some heavy metals using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed the Pb concentration in HDT ranges from 0.911±0.001 ppm to 0.069±0.008 ppm whereas, for the SMV it ranges from 0.456±0.000 ppm to 0.091±0.000 ppm. Almost all available Cd and Cr escaped leaving a non-detectable limit except for one of the SMV which showed a highly objectionable value of Cr 4.336±0.004 ppm. The concentration of Al ranges from 0.126±0.002 ppm to 0.093±0.001 ppm for the HDT; and 0.150±0.000 ppm to 0.057±0.001 ppm for the SMV. The Fe values ranges from 65.885±0.006 ppm to 27.834±0.009 ppm for HDT and 52.448±0.003 ppm to 2.418±0.001 ppm for the SMV. There is a clear indication that fragmented soot contributes to heavy metal pollution in Lafia Metropolis based on this study.