Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil Samples around Maiganga Coal Mine site and Kumo Town in Akko Local Government, Area of Gombe State

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in soils are of great concern to humans and the environment, owing to their toxicity, bio-accumulative potentiality, biodegradability, and intractable nature. Heavy metals are significant environmental pollutants and their toxicity is a problem of increasing significance for ecological, nutritional and environmental reasons. A total of 10 soil samples was obtained in which five samples (m1, m2, m3, m4 and m5) was taken from the Maiganga mining site, and another five (K1, K2, k3, k4 and k5) was taken from Kumo. Samples were collected on a clean plastic and transported to FUK chemistry laboratory to be analyzed for Chromium, Cadmium, Copper, Iron and Zinc (Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn). Cd recorded the lowest value of 0.010 ppm amongst all other heavy metals tested in this study, of which four of the five samples (K2, K3, K4 and K5) were below the detectable level and a low value of 0.010 ppm was detected in sample K1. Likewise, samples (M1, M3 and M5) from around the coal mine was below the detectable level of the instrument for Cd. Meanwhile Cd recorded the maximum value of 0.320 ppm. Fe had the highest value among all the heavy metals tested, with a maximum value of 101.265 ppm which was obtained from the mining Areas, and a minimum value of 66.960 ppm obtained from the residential area (Kumo). In conclusion, it was observed that higher values were recorded from samples obtained from the mining area, although all of which were below the permissible limit by WHO/FAO. Therefore, from the soil from Maiganga and Kumo is below the permissible limit and it not risky human health for use.