Assessment of Metals in Soils around Automobile Workshops in Ilorin NC, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper assesses the presence of metals in soils around automobile workshops in Ilorin Nigeria. Automobiles workshops are becoming points of pollution concerns to the environments. Core samples were obtained from five automobile workshops site at a different part of the city. Hand auger was used in obtaining the samples. Both the contaminated topsoil and uncontaminated subsoil section was obtained. Majors and trace metals were analysed for the soil samples using XRF machines. Soil mineralogical composition was analysed using XRD. Other analyses carried out on the soil samples are soil pH and grain sizes composition. Results show the compositions of major oxides are silica, alumina and iron oxides while minors composition include potassium, sodium and manganese oxides. Zinc, arsenic and vanadium are the major trace metals contaminants in the soil. Soil pH shows a slightly acidic to neutral. Sources of trace metals in the soils of automobiles workshop are worn-out parts, metal craps, zinc paints, steel alloys in crankshaft and gears and packaging materials. The assessment has shown that automobile workshops introduces heavy metals pollutions into soils and they are a major source of environmental pollution.