Chemical fractionation of heavy metals in soils around the vicinity of automobile mechanic workshops in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Journal of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
Title Chemical fractionation of heavy metals in soils around the vicinity of automobile mechanic workshops in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 3
Issue 7
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2011
Page numbers 184-194
URL http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1380007928_Achi et al.pdf
Abstract
The study of heavy metals in environmental niches is essential, especially with their potential toxicity to
human life. Metal toxicity depends on chemical associations in soils. For this reason, determining the
chemical form of a metal in soils is important to evaluate its mobility and bioavailability. In this manner
sequential extraction was used to fractionate seven heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Fe and Pb) from
ten contaminated soils into six operationally defined groups: water soluble, exchangeable, carbonate,
Fe -Mn oxide, organic, and residual. The residual fraction was the most abundant pool for all the metals
examined. A significant amount (2.00 to 73.47, 1.77 to 17.78, 9.76 to 58.54 and 1.71 to 54.11%
respectively) of Cu, Cd, Cr and Pb was present in the potentially available fraction: non residual
fraction. Contamination of Zn, Ni and Fe in these soils was not as severe as Cu, Cd, Cr and Pb. Overall,
the order of contamination was Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd > Ni > Zn > Fe. The study indicated that the possible
pollution of soils of this environment was as a result of activities carried out within these areas.

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