Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences: Home

Abstract:
Toxic metals (Cadmium, lead, copper and arsenic) study was carried out in soil, river and on rice production in Surulere Local Government of Oyo State. A group of soil and river sediment was mineralized with atomic absorption spectrophotometer analysis, the sediment samples was processed for texture analysis. The study also determined the levels of some heavy metals (Cd, Cr, As, Pb and Hg) in locally produced rice samples from the study area. Five rice samples were obtained from Agbonni, Iresadu, Oko, Iresapa and Ilajue. Results revealed that lead (Pb) ranged from 0.411 ? 0.635 mg/kg in the samples. It was showed that the physico-chemical characteristics, the pH are from 7.0 ? 9.0. Two kinds of textures were identified: loamy and loamy/sandy soil. Heavy metals identified from Arawo Lake rose from 0.02 to 11.0 mg/L for lead and 6.35 to 9.30 for arsenic. In soil, copper showed low concentrations in all the sites, while cadmium was below detectable limits. The levels of metal contamination and distribution were analyzed using geoaccumulation index and pollution load factor. The metal index analysis indicated high enrichment of the metals (especially Cb and Cr) which reflected anthropogenic effects of contamination attributable to several sources. This study made it clear that there is need to be more involved in environmental management to heavy metal hazard which could be turn to soil acidity and detrimental to the aquatic organism, in order to contributes to maximum food security of the country.

Keywords: economic, heavy metals, pollution, soil, river, rice, spectrophotometer, production

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