ABSTRACT
The environment is being degraded on a daily basis as a result of human activities like auto traffic, mining and agriculture among others. This has made environmental assessment studies and monitoring a matter of global attention considering our growing population Studies have also revealed that adverse health are associated with the pollution of the ecosystem by heavy metals which are easily bio accumulative but not biodegradable. This project is aimed at assessing the level of metal concentrations in soils of selected part of badagry area, south- western Nigeria.
Sixteen (16) soil samples were randomly collected in selected areas of Badagry. The samples were air-dried at room temperature, disaggregated, sieved through a 76µm mesh size and stored in a well-labeled polythene bags. The analytical method employed is Ultra Trace Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry (UT-ICP-ES/MS).
The results of geochemical analysis of the samples collected reveals the following range of concentration in ppm; Mo ( 0.19 -2.07), Cu(6.97-56.49), Pb(4.2-378.89),Zn(10.6 – 615.8),Ni(2.4
– 23.2), Co(0.6 – 4.4),Mn(4.2 – 486),As(0.3 – 4.5),Sr(4.2 – 242.3),Cd(2.5 – <0.01),V(10 – 32),Cr(8.9 – 73.3).
The study revealed that the high concentration of trace metals in soils within the study area call for close monitoring and a control method to reduce the likely source of health hazards.
TABLE OF CONTENT
| Title Page…………………………………………………………….. | i | |
| Certification………………………………………………………….. | ii | |
| Abstract………………………………………………………………. | iii | |
| Dedication……………………………………………………………. | iv | |
| Acknowledgement…………………………………………………… | v | |
| CHAPTER ONE 1.1 Introduction | 1 | |
| 1.2 Aim and Objectives | 2 | |
| 1.3 Scope of Study | 2 | |
| 1.4 Location and accessibility of the study Area | 2 | |
| 1.5 Topography and drainage of the Study Area | 3 | |
| 1.6 Climate and Vegetation | 4 | |
| 1.7 Previous work done | 5 | |
| CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Geology of the Eastern Dahomey Basin | 7 | |
| 2.1 Tectonic setting of the Eastern Dahomey Basin | 8 | |
| 2.2 Stratigraphy of the eastern Dahomey Basin | 9 | |
| 2.3. The Study Area: Its Geology and Anthropogenic Activities | 14 | |
| 2.3.1 Geology of the Study Area | 14 | |
| 2.3.2 Anthropogenic Activities in the Study Area | 14 | |
| CHAPTER THREE 3.0 Methodology | 15 | |
| 3.31 Field method | 15 | |
| 3.2 Laboratory method | 17 | |
| 3.2.1 Preparation of soil samples | 17 |
- Laboratory Analyses. 19
- Ultra-Trace Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (UT-ICP-ES/MS) 20
- RESULT, INTERPRETATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS 21
- Physiochemical properties of soil 21
- Geochemical distribution of metals in soil 35
- Conclusions and Recommendation 38
- Conclusion 38
- Recommendation 39
REFERENCE 40
GEOCHEMICAL APPRAISAL OF TRACE METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN SOILS OF SELECTED AREA OF BADAGRY, SOUTH -WESTERN NIGERIA
