Trace Metal Composition of Soil around Selected Pharmaceutical Industries in Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

The physicochemical properties and trace metal compositions of soil around selected pharmaceutical industries in Kaduna metropolis were investigated in this study. The mean pH, EC and TOM were 6.97, 341.3μS/cm and 3.11 respectively. Particle size analysis revealed a higher composition of sand fraction (78.7%). The concentration of the metals were in order Fe (1664.9 μg/g), Zn (155.17 μg/g), Mn (108.07 μg/g), Cr (34.62 μg/g), Pb (28.12 μg/g), Cu (12.21 μg/g) and Cd (0.04 μg/g). There was a significant difference in the concentration of these metals at most of the sampling point. Interelemental correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between Cd and Zn, Mn and Cu, and Fe and Mn at P<0.05. This implies a close association among them. The concentrations of the metals at the various sampling points were generally higher than the control which implies contamination from anthropogenic input. Result of relative pollution potential (RPP) and Contamination factor (CF) showed a similar trend: Cr>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. There was a moderate contamination of the soil by most of the metals investigated. There is need to continually monitor the concentration of trace metal in this area so