The
contamination of soils and plants by heavy metals from
automobile sources has become a serious environmental issue. The
content of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the agricultural soils and
cassava (Manihot esculentus) leaves from Adogo, Nigeria was
investigated using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
technique. Samples of soil and cassava leaves were collected
from a site located on a highway, and another in a rural area
which served as the reference site. Levels of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and
Zn in soil and cassava leaves were found to be <0.01, 0.89±0.25,
0.18±0.03, 0.44±0.16, 0.04±0.003 and 0.13±0.0002, 0.15±0.01,
0.06±0.005, 0.07±0.004, 0.06±0.002 µg/g respectively. The levels
of heavy metals in roadside agricultural soils and cassava
leaves were higher as compared to reference soil levels, with Pb
concentration seven times higher than level in soil and cassava
leaves in reference soil. In the absence of any major industry
in the sampling sites the Pb metallic level indicates relation
to traffic.
Cite this article as:
Matthews-Amune OC and Kakulu S
(2013). Investigation of heavy metal levels in roadside agricultural soil and
plant samples in Adogo, Nigeria. Acad. J. Environ. Sci. 1(2): 031-035.
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