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Assessing Heavy Metals Concentration in Crude Oil Impacted Soils at Ogbia L.G.A Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Subject area: Physical Sciences and Environment · Area of research: Pollution Studies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722206
Abstract
Heavy metal concentration in crude oil impacted soils in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state was investigated with the aim of assessing the level of contamination of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), Vanadium (V), Arsenic (As) as well as some soil physical properties such as soil pH, Permeability and Electrical Conductivity (EC). Soil sampling from three points (one control, & two impacted stations) was done within a depth interval of 0.0m-0.3m, 1m, 2m and 3m for both dry and rainy seasons. Standard analytical methods such as Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, pH meter and other soil analysis were adopted to obtain the raw data for each variable. A descriptive index analysis was carried out using the contamination factor (CF) for concentration of the metal in the soil and the pollution load index (PLI) to assess the overall pollution. Data were also compared with standards such as those of the WHO, NRCS, and the ‘ABG Soil Property’ for the permissible levels of heavy metals and soil property in a polluted environment. Results of the analyses showed that, while Arsenic was totally absent in the soil; the mean concentration of the heavy metals were found to be higher at the impacted soils than at the control station mostly during the wet season. Also, it was observed that, the soils of the impacted areas were found within the WHO permissible level for heavy metal concentration. This result was further affirmed as the CF of the individual elements showed that the soils of the area are within a range between low and moderately polluted with CFs of 0.6-1.0 for Pb, 0.4-1.0 for Cd, 0.9-1.0 for Ni and 0.8-1.4 for Vanadium while, the mean PLI is <1 for both seasons. The study also found out that the pH and the permeability of impacted soils are higher than that at the control station while the EC of impacted soils were found to be lower than that at the control station. Though, this result indicates that crude oil pollution affects soil property but when compared with permissible standards, it was found that, the soil properties are still within the permissible level to support plants growth. In general, the study concludes that though, the soils of the study area appeared to be contaminated, the soils are still within a permissible level to support the growth of plants. In-spite of these findings, the study recommends remediation of the soils to reduce the impact of heavy metals specifically to prevent groundwater seepage and bio-accumulation by plants.
Keywords
Soil, Heavy Metals, Bio-Accumulation, Seepage and Contamination.
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1722206,
author = {Kemebigha, I., Wolisi Ibebiwaru Harcourt Nelson, Charles Oyibo},
title = {Assessing Heavy Metals Concentration in Crude Oil Impacted Soils at Ogbia L.G.A Bayelsa State, Nigeria.},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {950-964},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722206.pdf},
abstract = {Heavy metal concentration in crude oil impacted soils in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state was investigated with the aim of assessing the level of contamination of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), Vanadium (V), Arsenic (As) as well as some soil physical properties such as soil pH, Permeability and Electrical Conductivity (EC). Soil sampling from three points (one control, & two impacted stations) was done within a depth interval of 0.0m-0.3m, 1m, 2m and 3m for both dry and rainy seasons. Standard analytical methods such as Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, pH meter and other soil analysis were adopted to obtain the raw data for each variable. A descriptive index analysis was carried out using the contamination factor (CF) for concentration of the metal in the soil and the pollution load index (PLI) to assess the overall pollution. Data were also compared with standards such as those of the WHO, NRCS, and the ‘ABG Soil Property’ for the permissible levels of heavy metals and soil property in a polluted environment. Results of the analyses showed that, while Arsenic was totally absent in the soil; the mean concentration of the heavy metals were found to be higher at the impacted soils than at the control station mostly during the wet season. Also, it was observed that, the soils of the impacted areas were found within the WHO permissible level for heavy metal concentration. This result was further affirmed as the CF of the individual elements showed that the soils of the area are within a range between low and moderately polluted with CFs of 0.6-1.0 for Pb, 0.4-1.0 for Cd, 0.9-1.0 for Ni and 0.8-1.4 for Vanadium while, the mean PLI is <1 for both seasons. The study also found out that the pH and the permeability of impacted soils are higher than that at the control station while the EC of impacted soils were found to be lower than that at the control station. Though, this result indicates that crude oil pollution affects soil property but when compared with permissible standards, it was found that, the soil properties are still within the permissible level to support plants growth. In general, the study concludes that though, the soils of the study area appeared to be contaminated, the soils are still within a permissible level to support the growth of plants. In-spite of these findings, the study recommends remediation of the soils to reduce the impact of heavy metals specifically to prevent groundwater seepage and bio-accumulation by plants.},
keywords = {Soil, Heavy Metals, Bio-Accumulation, Seepage and Contamination.},
month = {August},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722206}
}