Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Soils in the Vicinity of NPA Expressway Open Dump in Warri Metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable. They accumulate in the environment and subsequently contaminate the food chain. It is therefore essential to monitor heavy metals content in the soil, so as to prevent too much accumulation in human beings and animals through food chain. Test soil samples were collected from Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Expressway open dump, and background (control) soil samples were also collected at about 2 km from the open dump and spatial test samples were also collected. The physicochemical properties of the soil were determined. Tessier’s sequential extraction protocols were used to assess the geochemical forms of Cr, Pb, Zn, and Mn in the soil of the open dump. The concentrations of the heavy metals in the extracts were determined in a pre-calibrated atomic absorption spectrophotometer and they are above the background sample values. The metal assessment index (Igeo) evaluated, indicated that the soil in the vicinity of the open dump was highly polluted. The results obtained showed the mobile metal pools which are available to plants roots.

• Contamination
• Risk
• Assessment
• Soil
• Heavy Metals
• Dump

1. Introduction

Pollution by heavy metals occurs largely from industrial, domestic and agricultural wastes as well as from combustion of fossil fuel by automobiles and industries [1] .

Warri is a beehive of commercial and industrial activities. There are major industries in Warri metropolis and also numerous shops, markets and schools, which generate both degradable and non-degradable solid wastes. These wastes are comprised of paper, metals, glass, plastics, wood, rag, rubber, leather, food, scraps, damaged bicycles, coins, stainless steel, zinc roofing sheets, computer monitors, printer wiring board (PWB), relays, switch, broken mercury thermometer, dental amalgams, fluorescence lamps, etc. They decay and break into small pieces, are mineralized overtime and release their metallic contents into the soil. Soil pollution is caused by misuse of the soil, such as poor agricultural practices, disposal of industrial and urban wastes [2] . Excess heavy metals accumulation in the environment is capable of having toxicological implication in humans and other animals [1] . Soils are often recipient of pollutants from diverse sources, such as industrial emissions, waste disposal sites, agriculture, urban centers and vehicular emissions among others depending on its location [3] . Contaminants from all these sources are quickly transferred to air, water and soil [4] . Heavy metals although often ubiquitous and present in environment at low concentrations may pose human health risk when their concentrations reach levels above the permissible limits as stipulated by national and international regulatory bodies based on scientific evidence [4] - [9] . Heavy metal contamination poses a risk to the environment and human health [10] .

Therefore, the study aimed at assessing the heavy metal hazard potentials of the soil from NPA Expressway open dump by determining the varying concentrations of the toxic metals constituents and evaluating the mobile forms of the metals.

Different types of indices are used to assess the pollution status of soil/sediment and select the best index to describe the soil quality. Some of the indices used are geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and metal mobility factor (MF).

1.1. Geoaccumulation Index

The Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) introduced by Muller in 1979 was used to assess metal pollution in soil/sediments [11] . Geoaccumulation index is expressed as in the equation below:

Igeo = Log₂ (Cn/1.5 Bn)

The geoaccumulation index includes seven grades.

It includes various degrees of enrichment above the background value, ranging from unpolluted to very highly polluted soil/sediment quality.

The highest grade (class six) reflects 100-fold enrichment above the background values [12] .

1.2. Geoaccumulation Index of Heavy Metal Concentration in Soil

Source: Singh et al. (2003) [12] .

1.3. Intervention Values

Intervention Values indicate the quality for which the functionality of soil for human, animal and plant life are threatened with being seriously impaired or are being impaired. Concentration levels in excess of the intervention values correspond to serious contamination. Intervention values are soil-type specific in that it relates to the content of organic matter and clay in the soil of concern.

Trace metals may be distributed or fractionated among many components of the soil and may be associated with them in different ways. Chemical speciation is defined as distribution of an individual chemical element among different species or groups.

Tessier’s extraction scheme allows the division of the total metal content into five fractions: Exchangeable bound, carbonate bound, iron/manganese oxide bound, organic matter bound and residual fraction [13] . Tessier’s method is selected since it allows suitable estimation about characteristics of metal association [13] . It evaluates both the actual and potential mobility of metals in the environment. Each fraction obtained by the sequential procedure contains a different form of associated metal in soils.

The relative index of metal mobility is calculated as mobility factor [14] using the different fractions in the equation below.

MF = F 1 + F 2 F 1 + F 2 + F 3 + F 4 + F 5 × 100

The mobility of metals in soil is assessed on the basis of absolute and relative content of fractions weakly bound to soil components.

High MF values are symptoms of relatively high lability and biological availability of heavy metals in soils to plants and other ecological receptors.

2. Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contribution of solid wastes to heavy metal pollution of the urban soils of Warri. This is because the plant crops growing close to such open dumps will be harvested for food or for sale to the public by the owner of the land, and heavy metals will be transferred by food chain to man. The NPA expressway open dump was chosen as it is one of the popular dump sites in the city of Warri.

Objectives of the Study

This work is set to:

1) Measure the total concentration levels of heavy metals in soils in the vicinity of NPA Expressway open dump in Warri.

2) Evaluate anthropogenic pollution status of the soil in the vicinity of the open dump using the geoaccumulation index.

3) Determine the chemical forms of the heavy metals in the soil samples in the NPA Expressway open dump using sequential extraction technique.

4) Determine the spatial distribution of the heavy metals in the soil samples in the vicinity of the open dump.

5) Evaluate the mobile metal forms of the heavy metals of environmental concerns.

3. Experimental

3.1. Study Site

Figure 1 below shows the geographical location of Warri in the map of Nigeria and Figure 2 shows the NPA Expressway open dump.

3.1.1. Sampling Location

Warri metropolis is the headquarters of Warri South Local Government Area. Warri is situated in the Southern part of Delta State precisely about the intersection of longitude 5.45˚East and latitude 5.30˚North of the Equator. Warri is about 256 square kilometres in Area, with a total population of 303,417 [15] . NPA open dump is located west of the city.

3.1.2. Sampling

1) Aggregate Test Soil Samples of NPA Expressway Open Dump

Aggregate soil samples were collected from NPA Expressway open dump using a stainless steel auger.

Background (control) soil samples were also collected at about 2km from the open dump. The background samples are the control samples which are collected far away from the open dump to avoid possible contamination of the soil.

2) Spatial Test Soil Samples

Spatial test samples were collected at various increasing distances 10 m ? 109 m from the open dump. Sampling was done in the wet season.

3.2. Method

3.2.1. Preparation of Soil Samples for Analysis

The soil samples were air dried, ground and sieved through a 2 mm sieve. Dried soil samples that fell below the sieve were stored in polythene bags and properly labeled for subsequent analyses. They were used for all the analyses. The total heavy metal concentrations of the test soil and background soil samples were determined using the procedure described by Tessier et al., 1979 [13] . The resulting solution was analyzed using an Atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

3.2.2. Determination of Physico-Chemical Properties of the Soil Samples

The physico-chemical properties, pH, TOC, CEC, the soil textural class and the total metal content of the soil samples were determined using standard procedures/methods.

3.2.3. The Soil pH

20 g of soil sample was weighed into a 50 ml beaker and 20 ml distilled water was added. The soil/water mixture (ratio 1:1) was allowed to stand for 30 minutes and stirred occasionally with a glass rod. The Suntex pH meter was calibrated using buffer 4 and 7. The electrodes were rinsed and subsequently immersed into the soil/water mixture and the pH was recorded as pH (H₂0) [16] .

3.2.4. Total Organic Carbon

5 ml of K₂Cr₂0₇ solution was added to one gram soil sample in a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask and swirled gently to wet the sample thoroughly. 20 ml of concentrated H₂SO₄ was then added and the mixture was allowed to cool. 100 ml of distilled water was added, followed by few drops of ferrion indicator and the mixture was titrated against 0.5 M iron (II) sulphate solution to a green endpoint. A blank determination was also performed. The blank contained 5 ml of the K₂Cr₂0₇ solution, 20 ml concentrated H₂SO₄, 100 ml distilled water and 5 drops of Ferroin indicator [17] [18] .

3.2.5. Calculation

% Organic carbon = ( B − T ) × M × 0.003 × 1.33 × 100 W

B = Blank titer (ml)

T = Sample titer (ml)

M = Molarity of Iron (II) sulphate

0.003 = Factor for equivalent weight of carbon

1.33 = Factor for proportion of active organic carbon

W = Weight of soil (1 g)

% organic matter in soil = % organic carbon × 1.729.

3.2.6. Cation Exchange Capacity

5 g of soil sample was weighed into a 250 ml polypropylene bottle and 100 ml 5 M NH₄OAc solution added. The mixture was shaken 30 mins in a mechanical shaker (Heldoph) at 200 rpm for 30 mins. The supernatant was filtered through Whatman No. 1 filter paper. The concentration of K⁺ and Na⁺ in the extract were determined by flame photometer while Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific VGP 210 model). The equipment was calibrated using various concentrations of the metals ranging from 2 - 20 ppm prepared from analytical grade reagents (Sigma, BDH and Buck Scientific). The summation of the various cations was reported as cation exchange capacity [19] .

3.2.7. Particle Size Analysis―Hydrometer Method

50 g of soil sample was weighed into a 250 ml beaker, 100 ml distilled water and 10 ml of concentrated H₂0₂ were added to the soil. The content of the beaker was heated until frothing stopped. The mixture was cooled and transferred into shaking bottles, 20 ml of sodium hexametaphosphate solution was added and mixture shaken for 1 hr. The suspension was transferred to 1 L sedimentation cylinder and brought to mark with water. A plunger was used to agitate the suspension. The hydrometer was then lowered into the suspension and its reading was taken after 40 seconds. The temperature was noted. The first reading, R₁, gave the percentage clay and silt. The suspension was allowed to stand for 2 hours before the hydrometer reading was taken again. The second reading, R₂, gave the percentage clay [20] [21] .

Calculation

% ( Clay + Silt ) = R 1 + 0.3 x × 100 DryWeightofsoil

% Clay = R 2 + 0.3 x × 100 W

R₁ = Hydrometer reading after 40 seconds.

R₂ = Hydrometer reading after 2 hours.

X = Degree rise above calibration point of hydrometer

0.3 = Correction factor for every degree rise above the calibration temperature of the hydrometer.

W = Weight of soil sample (50 g).

% sand = 100 ? (Clay + Silt)%

% Silt = 100 ? (Sand + Clay)%

3.2.8. Geochemical Forms of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn in the Soil Samples

In order to assess the geochemical forms and bioavailability (Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn) in the soil of the open dumps, Tessier et al., (1979) [13] sequential extraction procedures were employed.

1 g of each of the soil samples was used for the sequential extraction. After each successive extraction process, centrifuging the mixture at 1500 rpm for 15 mins affected the liquid-solid phase separation. The supernatant was decanted into a polypropylene bottle for metal analysis while the residue was carried through the whole extraction process.

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn) in the various extracts were determined in a pre-calibrated atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

3.2.9. Tessier et al. Sequential Extraction of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn in Soil Samples at the Vicinity of the Open Dump

Exchangeable (F₁): The residue from above is extracted with 8 ml 1 M MgCl₂ (pH7) for 1 hour.

Carbonate Bound (F₂): The residue from (F₁) extracted with 8 ml 5 M NaOAC (pH5) for 5 hours.

Fe ? Mn Oxide bound (F₃): The residue from (F₂) extracted with 0.04 M NH₂OH. HC1 for 6 hours at 96˚C ± 2˚C.

Organic matter bound (F₄): The residue from (F₃) extracted with 30% H₂O₂ (pH2), 3.6 M NH₄OAC for 5 hours + 30 mins at 85˚C ± 2˚C.

Residual (F₅): The residue from (F₄) extracted with Aqua-regia, HC1O₄ until white fumes appeared.

3.2.10. Quality Control and Assurance

In order to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results obtained, all reagents used for the preparation of standard solutions and analysis were analytical grades (BDH, Sigma and Buck Scientific).

All glass wares and plastics were acid-washed and rinsed thoroughly with deionized water.

Buck scientific standard solutions were used to calibrate the atomic absorption spectrophotometer as required. Buck scientific (VGP210) atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the analyses.

Procedural blank samples were subjected to similar extraction method using the same amounts of reagents. Blank determinations of the elements were below the detection limits of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

The analyses were carried out in triplicates.

3.3. Statistical Analysis

The analytical results were compiled to form a multi-element data base using excel.

4. Results and Discussion

Tables 1-4 and Figure 3 below showed the results obtained.

The physicochemical properties of the soil samples from NPA Expressway open dump showed that the soil is predominantly sandy loam - 57.00% ± 2.00% being sand, 27.00% ± 2.00% being silt. Clay is made up of 16.00% ± 2.00% as shown in Table 1 below. The soil type is a characteristic of a well-drained soil rendering the soil permeable to pollutants including heavy metals.

Table 1

Physicochemical properties of aggregate soil samples from NPA Expressway open dump in Warri, Delta State

Metals	Mean values of heavy metal content (mg/kg)
	NPA Expressway sample values	Background sample values	Intervention values	Uncontaminated soil values
Cr	292.28 ± 7.82	1.80 ± 0.20	190.4	100
Pb	10.00 ± 2.00	1.00 ± 0.04	312	14
Zn	456.00 ± 5.00	3.80 ± 0.80	257.5	75
Mn	111.00 ± 7.00	5.00 ± 0.30	NL	960

Table 2

Mean values of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn contents in the aggregate soil samples of NPA Expressway open dump, background soil sample values (mg/kg of soil dry weight), intervention values and uncontaminated soil values from around the world.

Metals (mg/kg)	10 m	11 m	12 m	13 m	14 m	29 m	59 m	109 m	Background values
Cr	234.00 ± 1.00	208.20 ± 10.00	184.00 ± 5.00	158.00 ± 0.00	111.00 ± 2.00	20.00 ± 4.00	18.00 ± 3.70	14.80 ± 2.80	1.80 ± 0.20
Pb	7.20 ± 1.00	5.90 ± 1.00	3.20 ± 0.80	1.90 ± 0.80	1.20 ± 0.10	1.10 ± 0.00	1.10 ± 0.20	1.10 ± 0.40	1.00 ± 0.04
Zn	396.80 ± 9.00	301.00 ± 6.00	233.20 ± 5.00	134.10 ± 12.00	76.00 ± 10.00	23.80 ± 5.20	19.60 ± 3.60	15.00 ± 3.00	3.80 ± 0.80
Mn	104.00 ± 1.00	88.40 ± 1.00	81.70 ± 3.00	65.00 ± 0.00	54.00 ± 2.00	23.90 ± 4.00	24.40 ± 3.00	20.00 ± 0.00	5.00 ± 0.30

Uncontaminated soil values from around the world [22] . NL is not listed in DPR target and intervention values for micro pollutant for a standard soil [23] .

Table 3

Spatial distribution of the total metal content (mg/kg), standard deviation and background sample values of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn in soil of NPA Expressway open dump, Warri

Distances from epicentre of the open dump (m)	Metals	Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo)	Pollution status
10	Cr Pb Zn Mn	6.4 2.3 6.1 3.8	Very highly polluted Moderately polluted Very highly polluted Moderately highly polluted
11	Cr Pb Zn Mn	6.3 2.0 5.7 3.6	Very highly polluted Moderately unpolluted Very highly polluted Moderately highly polluted
12	Cr Pb Zn Mn	6.1 1.1 5.4 3.8	Very highly polluted Moderately to unpolluted Very highly polluted Moderately highly polluted
13	Cr Pb Zn Mn	5.9 0.3 4.6 3.5	Very highly polluted Unpolluted Highly polluted Moderately highly polluted
14	Cr Pb Zn Mn	5.4 −0.3 3.7 2.9	Very highly polluted Background concentration Moderately highly polluted Moderately polluted
29	Cr Pb Zn Mn	2.9 −0.6 2.1 1.7	Moderately polluted Background concentration Moderately polluted Moderately unpolluted
59	Cr Pb Zn Mn	2.7 −1.3 1.8 1.7	Moderately polluted Background concentration Moderately unpolluted Moderately unpolluted
109	Cr Pb Zn Mn	2.5 −0.5 1.4 1.4	Moderately polluted Background concentration Moderately unpolluted Moderately unpolluted

Table 4

Spatial Contamination Profile of the heavy metals in the vicinity of NPA Expressway open dump

Table 2 above shows that the total metal contents of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn in the aggregate soil samples are above the background soil sample values.

The mean values of Cr and Zn exceeded the 190.4 and 257.5 intervention values

respectively, and the 100 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg values respectively stated for uncontaminated soil from around the world [22] . Concentration levels in excess of the intervention values correspond to serious contamination.

The high values of Cr and Zn may be associated with anthropogenic activities ranging from the waste disposal into the open dump, vehicular emissions and particulate matter while the low value of Pb may be due to the fact that NPA Expressway is far from human settlement as a result Pb containing materials are few in the open dump. Atmospheric deposition may have contributed to the amount determined.

The total metal content determined as shown in Table 3 above indicated that the levels of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn in all the distances are above the background sample values except for Pb at distance 59 m. In addition, the total metal content determined also indicated that the levels of Cr and Zn at distances (10 m - 14 m) away from the epicentre of the open dump are above the 100 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg values stated for uncontaminated soils respectively.

The levels of Lead and Manganese in all the distances (10 m - 109 m) away from the epicentre of the open dump are below the 14 mg/kg and 960 mg/kg values for uncontaminated soils from around the world as in Table 2 above.

The spatial variation of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn as in Table 3 indicated that the soil samples collected 10 m away from the epicentre of the open dump had the highest levels of Cr (234.00 mg/kg), Pb (7.20 ± 1.00 mg/kg), Zn (396.80 mg/kg), Mn (104.00 mg/kg) while the soil samples collected 109 m away from the epicentre of the open dump had the lowest concentration levels of Cr (14.80 ± 2.80 mg/kg), Pb (1.10 ± 0.40 mg/kg), Zn (15.00 ± 3.00 mg/kg) and Mn (20.00 ± 0.00 mg/kg), this shows that the heavy metal content decreases as the distance increases and becomes far away from the open dump which is the source of the pollution. The study conducted by Ahmed et al. [24] at two municipal solid wastes (MSW) dumpsites at Alexandria in Egypt also showed similar trend of heavy metal contamination in soils.

At distance 59 m away from the epicentre of NPA Expressway open dump, Mtotal was 61.60 ± 10.50 mg/kg (and contained Cr: 18.00 ± 3.70 mg/kg, Pb: 0.6 ± 0.20 mg/kg, Zn: 19.60 ± 3.60 mg/kg and Mn: 24.40 ± 3.00 mg/kg), suggesting a spatial reduction in M total of about 97.7%.

The metal assessment index (Igeo) used to assess the contamination status of the soil of the NPA Expressway open dump as shown in Table 4 above indicated that the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) ranged from background concentration to very highly polluted (see introduction). The mean Igeo values for all trace elements ranged from 0.3 to 6.4 suggesting background concentration to be very highly polluted. According to Nweke et al. [25] in all the soils, the six metals fall within two Igeo classes based on Muller’s interpretation - moderate contamination (Pb and Cd) and uncontaminated to moderate contamination (Cu, Cr and Zn). At 10 m away from the epicentre of the open dump, the Igeo values for Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn are 6.4, 2.3, 6.1 and 3.8, this indicated that the pollution status of the soil are very highly polluted, moderately polluted, very highly polluted and moderately to highly polluted respectively. At 109 m away from the epicentre of the open dump, the Igeo values for Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn had drastically reduced to 2.5, - 0.5, 1.4 and 1.4, showing that the pollution status of the soil are moderately polluted, background concentration, moderately unpolluted and moderately unpolluted respectively.

However, the heavy metal assessment indices are not to be used as the only indicator for soil/sediment quality. Risk assessment relies on the mobile fraction of the metal.

Mobility Factor (MF in %) of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn in the representative aggregate soil samples in the vicinity of NPA Expressway open dump evaluated showed that the MF values ranged from 6% - 14%. Zn had the highest MF values of 14%. The low MF values of the metals may be attributed to the high organic matter content of the soils and the textural class of the soil. This is consistent with other reporters [26] . Mobility factor describes the potential mobility of metals in soils as some metals forms are more strongly bound to the soil component than some. High MF values have been reported as symptoms of relatively high liability and biological availability of heavy metals in soils.

Chemical Speciation of the metals as shown in Figure 3 above indicated that the organic matter fraction (F₄) had the highest% of Pb. The inputs of Pb were found in the organic, oxide and carbonate fractions [27] . Fe-Mn oxide fraction (F₃) had the highest% of the four metals except Pb. The exchangeable fraction (F₁) had the least% of the four metals (0% - 1%). The exchangeable fraction is the mobile metal form or phase. This fraction is important because of the high mobility of metals from it to the aqueous phase¹⁸. Similar observations have been reported by other researchers [28] [29] .

The percentage chemical forms of Cr, Zn and Mn showed in Figure 3 are 41%, 54% and 46% respectively and are found in Fe-Mn oxide fraction (F₃). Fe-Mn oxide fraction had the highest percentage of Cr, Zn and Mn. In agreement with these results, several other workers have also reported dominance of the Fe-Mn oxides bound to Zn [30] [31] .

Evaluation of the mobile metal forms showed that the most mobile metal in the open dump is Zn (63.42 ± 2.00 mg/kg) while the least mobile metal is Pb (0.54 ± 0.10 mg/kg) and the levels of the mobile metals are above the background sample values.

The mobile metals pools in the soil sample 59 m away from the open dump indicated that the mobile metals pools have reduced drastically and the most mobile metal in the open dump is Mn (7.70 ± 4.00 mg/kg) while the least mobile metal is Pb (0.10 ± 0.00 mg/kg).

5. Conclusions

Mean values of Cr, Pb, Zn and Mn reported in this study exceeded the background samples values. The heavy metal index (Igeo) indicated that the soils in the vicinity of the NPA Expressway open dump were very highly polluted. A large amount of the metals were bound to the Fe-Mn oxide fraction. Pb was bound mostly to the organic carbon. The most mobile metal in the vicinity of the open dump was Zn, but at 59 m away from the open dump, the most mobile metal was Mn, while the least mobile metal was Pb. At about 59 m away from the open dump, there was a reduction in the mobile metal pools from 63.42 ± 2.00 mg/kg to 6.70 ± 2.60 mg/kg Zn, 0.54 ± 0.10 mg/kg to 0.10 ± 0.00 mg/kg Pb and 9.62 ± 0.20 mg/kg to 7.70 ± 4.00 mg/kg Mn.

The open dump induces contamination on the nearer environment by metal mobility. Spatial contamination profile of the heavy metals showed that the levels of the metals decreased with increasing distances from the open dump. Nevertheless, while the impact of the open dump was clear up to the 109 m covered, the pollution impact of the metals was observed mostly in the soils at very close proximity to the open dump.

6. Contribution to Knowledge

This study has provided data and information on:

1) The chemical forms of the heavy metals of environmental concerns in the soils in the vicinity of NPA Expressway open dump.

2) The mobile metal pools which could be absorbable by plants.

3) The spatial contamination profile of the heavy metals in the soils in the vicinity of NPA Expressway open dump, Warri.

Acknowledgements

I wish to acknowledge the head, central analytical laboratory, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria for the analytical work. The same acknowledgment also goes to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for the grant given towards this research.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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