Abstract

Crude recycling of used engines and transmissions in no small measure is of great concern to environmental health and safety. In this study, topsoil across Obosi automobile junk market (alias Mgbuka Obosi) near Onitsha, Nigeria, is investigated for heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) enrichment. Fifteen composite soil samples were randomly collected in addition to the background samples at 0-6 and 6-15 cm depths. Samples were properly digested and subjected to spectroscopic analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) for trace metals, and gas chromatography for PAH. The result shows that trace metals concentration (ppm) in 0-15 cm depth are well above the background values with Pb in excess of international standards. Metal enrichment is in the order of Pb>Zn>Mn>Cr>Cu>Ni>Cd. Analysis of PAH found in fluorine and anthracite as addition in the Automobile Junk Market (AJM) soil. Mean pH was 3.24 in the AJM soil, against 7.0 in the background. Urgent environmental alert therefore requires AJM operations worldwide to be environmentally friendly. 

Key words: Soil pollution, trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), junk engines-transmissions, developing countries.