Environmental Impact of Heavy Metals Concentration in Parts of Kokona/Nasarawa L.G.A(s), Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria

Abstract:

Geochemical survey was carried out in the soils, mine dump and water of Afu Younger Granite Complex, Nasarawa State. The aim of the study is to assess the level of trace element distribution in the three (3) media sampled as mentioned above. Objectives are to produce geochemical information of the area and the likely effects of the trace elements with remedies. Identify possible source of the trace elements. Atomic absorption, spectrometer (AAS) was used for analysis for seven trace metals – Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb and Ni. The result revealed soil average metal concentration in the following order of decrease. Fe 286.163 > Pb, 0.648 > Co, 0.133 > Cu, 0.080 > Cd, 0.054, > Ni, 0.029 > Ci, 0.017. Mine dump reads as follows in the diminishing order. Fe, 185.590 > Pb, 0.607 > Cu, 0.122 > Co, 0.049 > Ni, 0.031 > Cd, 0.022 > Cr, 0.011 in ppm. Water in the same order reveals; Fe, 1.942 > Co, 0.630 > Pb, 0.512 > Cu 0.043 > Cr, 0.030 = Cd, 0.030 > Ni, 0.003. All the average soil samples of the individual elements are greater than that of mine dumps except for Ni and Cu. All the average trace elements in soil and mine dumps are less than the World Soil Mean (WSM) and Average Concentration of Granitic Rocks (ACGR). In water, Cd, Co, Fe, Ni and Pb are above World Health Organization (WHO) Standard, World River Mean (WRM), Cr and Cu are lower.