Abstract

This study was carried out in Lafia, to determine metallic pollution in soils due to incineration of tyre on the soils at different layers and the effect of pH on the heavy metals leaching. Soil composite samples were collected from 5 identified locations (Shabu, Wakwa Alhaji, Ombi1, Tudun Amba and Akurba) manually at various depths, 0-10, 11-20 and 21-30 cm using a stainless-steel hand auger. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for the analysis of the selected heavy metals. The samples showed elevated amounts of metallic depositions compared to the control sample. It was also observed that the heavy metals concentrations in the soil samples decreased with soil depth. The distribution pattern was in the following order Zn > Fe > Pb > Cd > Cu. Across all the sampling locations and profiles, Zn and Cu showed the highest (9.380 mg/kg) and least (0.003 mg/kg) mean concentrations respectively. The pH values ranged from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline with 7.3 - 8.4 (0 - 10 cm), 7.1 - 7.4 (11 - 20 cm) and 6.9 - 6.7.4 (21 - 30 cm). The waste tyre burning serves as a potential source of heavy metals pollution to the environment.

Key words: Heavy metals, Lafia, atomic aborption spectrometer, soil, tyre.