IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CAUSED BY CEMENT DUST ON VEGETATION AND SOIL OF OBAJANA COMMUNITY, KOGI STATE NIGERIA

Owoleke, Oluwafemi Stephen¹, Joseph, Babatunde Itah², Owoleke, Veronica Amina³*
¹Department of Social Science and Humanities, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
²Department of Accountancy, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
³Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author, E-mail: aminavera45@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals emanating from cement production activities are serious pollutants. The study assessed the level of metal contamination of topsoil and vegetables grown around Obajana Cement Factory. Soil and plant samples were collected at 1, 2 and 3 kilometers from the factory. Samples were digested using Aqua regia solution, metal concentrations were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Data generated were subjected to basic statistics and ANOVA with significance level at p<0.05. The soil samples contained Zn (8.70-196.00 mg/kg), Cr (3.95-115.87 mg/kg), Pb (4.18-29.65 mg/kg), Cd (0.00-6.75 mg/kg) and Cu (5.70-34.00 mg/kg). The study discovered that: Heavy metal levels was highest at distances closest to the factory and Pb, Cr and Zn had peak concentrations in the northern, western and eastern axis of the factory respectively; Soil in the vicinity of the cement plant was slightly acidic to moderately alkaline while Soil organic matter was found to gradually increase in percentage as distance from factory increased; The soils of Obajana community has elevated levels of heavy metals, although Cr alone had concentrations higher than the WHO permissible limits. Vegetables grown around the factory bioaccumulated some heavy metal and portents hazard to its consumers. It is recommended that remediation process be put in place to reduce the Heavy Metal load in the soil of Obajana community.

Keywords; Cement factory, soil, heavy metals, cement dust, physicochemical properties