Affiliations 

  • 1 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
  • 2 Bayero University Kano
MyJurnal

Abstract

This paper is aimed to evaluate the concentration of some heavy metals in order to assess the temporal
variation, Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) in the soil along the airport road of
Kano State. Soil samples were collected during 2009 and 2015 using the composite sampling
techniques. 10 samples were collected in each period and then analysed using the standard laboratory
procedures. The findings revealed that the mean values of Mn (52±7.2), Fe (281±19.4) and Cd (3.0±0.3)
were found to be higher in 2009 soil samples. The mean value of Cu (100±16.3), Zn (161±47.7), Cr
(20.8±1.5), Ni (53.9±9.7) and pH (9.0±0.56) were found to be higher in 2015 soil samples. The CF value
shows that the collected soils of the sampling area have low contamination level and moderately
contaminated with Cd. The soils samples also have been classified as low pollution level according to
the PLI. The finding has concluded that there is gradual accumulation of Cu, Zn, Cr and Ni with reduction
in Mn, Fe and Cd. The collected soils have low contamination level with selected heavy metal except
Cd that moderately contaminates the soil of the area according to contamination factor. The PLI values
of the heavy metals during 2009 and 2015 are 0.0006 and 0.02 respectively, indicating the increases in
pollution load from 2009 to 2015 in the study area. Proper soil management such as the increase of pH
and organic matter as well as the avoidance of using contaminated water for irrigation were
recommended in the sampling area.