Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Soil at E-waste Blazing Sites in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria
Edwin Andrew Ofudje *
Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, McPherson University, Sariki-Sotayo, Ogun State, Nigeria
Olubunmi Kolawole Akiode
Chemistry Unit, Institute for Human Resources Development, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Gabriel Opeoluwa Oladipo
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, D. S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Ogun State, Nigeria
Adebusayo Emmanuel Adedapo
Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Lateefah Olanike Adebayo
Department of Chemical Sciences, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The evaluation of open blazing of electronic waste on the chemical composition of three different soil where e-waste were regularly being burnt with control samples at various distances away from each blazing site at computer village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria was carried out using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd and Cu from the three locations were found to be 120.3±0.4, 18.7±1.3, 90.3±0.4, 16.4±0.5 and 60.3±2.0 mg/kg respectively. There was gradual decrease in heavy metals concentrations at various distances away from each blazing site as the distances increase which suggested that there were leaching of these heavy metals from e-waste containing substances. Pearson correlation revealed that some of the heavy metals showed both positive and negative correlations with each other. When compared with standard values, only cadmium exceeded the tolerable limit recommended by European Union and USEPA. Thus, open blazing of e-waste contributed to the concentrations of these heavy metals in the soils.
Keywords: Contaminants, e-waste, metal toxicity, open blazing, soil