Evaluation of Heavy Metal Pollution Level Caused by Cement Production in Obajana, Kogi State

Topsoil often gets polluted as a result of anthropogenic activities. These activities produce fugitive dust that may contain heavy metals which deteriorate the quality of soil, water and air. Therefore, there is a need to ascertain the physicochemical characteristics and heavy metal levels in topsoil around large factories like Obajana cement factory in Kogi state so as to recommend mitigation measures to cushion the negative impact of pollutants in the environment. The location (geographical coordinate) of the factory was determined using geological and topographical maps, satellite images and Global Position System (GPS). Field observations, testing of water and soil were conducted to determine the effect of cement production activities in and around soil of Obajana environment. The data obtained was analyzed in order to assess the presence of heavy metals and other physicochemical attributes of the soil. Water samples were collected at random from the stream around the factory. About seven (7) soil samples, five (5) water samples and three (3) plants namely Cynodon dactylon, Plectranthus Scutellarioides, and Muhlenbergia rigens were collected from the same region. Heavy metals for which these samples were analyzed were cadmium, lead, chromium, manganese, copper, cobalt, zinc, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was used for analyzing the water samples while X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to analyze the soil. Results showed that the concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper and cobalt in water were recorded above the permissible limits set by Federal Environmental Protect Agency (FEPA) and WHO. pH of all water samples was recorded below the neutral value. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil were recorded above the permissible limits.