Determination of The Concentration of Selected Heavy Metals in Dust Particles Within The Automobile Brownfield Areas of Damaturu L.G.A, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research work studied determination of the concentration of selected heavy metals in dust particles within the automobile brownfield areas of Damaturu L.G.A, Yobe state, Nigeria. Dust samples were collected from selected automobile workshops sites (Maiduguri, Gujba, Potiskum and Gashua road) in Damaturu, Yobe State at different locations (A,B,C, D and E). Heavy metals such as Pb, As, Se, Fe and Cd were determined. A Simple Random Sampling method was adopted for the study. Further analysis were carried out using mean standard deviation and ANOVA. Mean concentrations of heavy metals in dust samples (mgkg-1) ranged from 1.24+0.40- 8.65+0.51, 0.58+0.63 - 2.31+0.31, 1.62+0.06 - 29.18+0.84, 1.08+0.32- 80.52+1.31, 0.66+0.41 – 5.38+0.38 for Pb, As, Se, Fe and Cd respectively.
To evaluate the significance of heavy metals concentration of dust in the study area, ANOVA (P>0.05) was conducted involving different variations in contamination across the sites (A, B, C, D and E) as samples were collected and variations across the various sites were also recorded. The analysis of variance for heavy metals concentration in dust was also found to be significant (P>0.05) at all the location except Arsenic at site B. Highest concentration was recorded at sites A, C, D, and E for Lead (Pb), Arsenic (As), Selenium (Se), Iron (Fe) and Cadmium (Cd) respectively. Although, the main source of these heavy metals is the exhaust from motor vehicles. Other sources such as road side deposition of motor engine oil, battery wastes, car tires, the presence of iron benders, welders and electricians discharging metals with the environment and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the environment could also contribute significantly.
The results indicated that dust qualities varied between slightly contaminated to highly polluted status. This showed that the heavy metal contamination of the dusts do not call for an alarm; however proactive measures must be taken to minimize accumulation of these metals in the environment. The study recommended that a healthy environmental talk should be given to automobile operators to enhance their performance by ensuring safety in their practices. Orientation on safe waste handling and disposal methods should be given from time to time and automobile workshops should be assessed regularly to ensure compliance to environmental rules and regulations in order to avoid health related problems as a result of excess exposure.