Partitioning of Some Heavy Metals in the Soil along the Effluent Channels of JEZCO Plastic Industry Ekwulobia, Anambra State, Nigeria

The partitioning of some selected heavy metals in soil samples along the effluent channels of JEZCO Plastics industry Ekwulobia was investigated. The pH of the soils had average value of 8.07 and moisture content of 5.22%. The results revealed total metal concentration range of 0.13 mg/kg to 16.49 mg/kg among the metals –Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, Co, Zn,Mn, Fe and Ca. Cadmium (Cd) had the lowest metal concentration with a value of 0.15 mg/kg and iron (Fe) had the highest metal concentration with a value of 14.62 mg/kg. The observed trend for total metal concentration was Fe > Mn > Ca > Pb > Cu > Ni > Co > Zn > Cr > Cd. The computed bioavailability of the metals followed the trend: Ca > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co > Cr > Zn > Cd > Fe. The heavy metal partitioning showed that the highest and lowest concentration of the metals Fe, Mn, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co and Zn, were found in the residual and water soluble forms respectively, except for Ca which had its highest concentration in the carbonate bound form, and the lowest concentration in the water soluble fraction. The highest concentration of Cd was found in the residual fraction and lowest was found in the water soluble fraction. Comparison with NESREA standard also revealed low contamination level of the metals, and there was no mean significant difference to conclude there was heavy metal pollution of the environment.