Speciation of Trace Metals in Top Soils in Jos Industrial Areas.

Abstract

Total metals concentrations of copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Iron (Fe), Lead (Ph) and Zinc (Zn) were determined in soil samples from 3 industrial areas in Jos metropolis. Five successive selective chemical fractions were used in the analysis to determine the heavy metals associated with exchangeable fraction, carbonate fraction, easily reducible/iron-manganese oxides, and residual fraction. Nickel was not detected in the exchangeable, organic and carbonate fractions, while iron predominated the five chemical fractions. Manganese and iron gave higher concentrations for the easily reducible/Fe-Mn oxides fraction, pH values of the soil samples ranged between 5.62 to 6.32, which indicate that the soils were acidic. Most of the metal studied were present in the reducible fraction,. The concentration of manganses, iron and lead exceeded the threshold limit of the environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for soil pollution. The levels of these metals have been lined to industrial, mining and metallurgical activities in the city.