Assessing the pollution effect of cement dust emission on the soil quality around Ewekoro cement factory, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the pollution effects of cement dust emission on the soil quality around Ewekoro, southwestern Nigeria. Composite soil samples were collected at six locations from the cement factory (0 km) to a distance of 3 km outside the factory; for two consecutive years. Soil samples were also taken from a distance of 22 km after the cement factory to serve as a control. A total of 42 soil samples were collected and subjected to laboratory assays using standard procedures. Samples were analyzed for pH, organic carbon, particle size, available phosphorus (AvP), alkalinity, exchangeable cations, and heavy metals. Data collected were subjected to simple descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS for Windows. Pollution effect was also evaluated for pollution index (PI), ecological risk index (ERI), Nemerov integrated pollution index (NIPI), and enrichment factor (EF). Results showed significantly higher levels of exchangeable cations, alkalinity, AvP, pH, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Fe in the vicinity of the cement factory than in the control site. The distribution of metals in soils around the cement factory followed the trend of Fe > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu. The PI of metals in soil established high pollution levels for Pb and Zn. The NIPI values for Cu, Cr, and Fe showed low levels of pollution at the vicinity of the cement industry, while no pollution level was observed at the control site. NIPI revealed that Pb varied from low to moderate pollution levels across the sampling locations. The EF values of Zn and Pb were higher than 2.0, thereby suggesting emissions from anthropogenic activities, especially from the cement industry.

Keywords:

• Cement dust
• soil quality
• soil parameters
• metals
• pollution index

Data availability statement

Data associated with the manuscript is presented in the text.

Dedication

This paper is dedicated to the memory of the first author, Dr. Orisunmibare Taiwo Agbede who died in November 2014, four years after completing his Ph.D. programme.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare