Spatial Variation of heavy metal Pollution on road surfaces from Traffic sources in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus

Abstract

This study aims to analyze heavy metal concentrations on road deposited sediment (RDS) using the road network within Enugu Campus of University of Nigeria, (UNEC) as a study site. RDS samples were collected at two transverse positions from different sites within a week in order to describe the influence of traffic on heavy metal emissions. The heavy metal concentrations of the RDS were determined by strong tri-acid digestion and atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentrations for Co, Mn, Zn, Ni and Fe were found to be 11.53, 99.92, 221, 44.23 and 216 mg kg-1 from samples near the curb and 12.37, 92.25, 248.87, 43.62 and 197.5 mg kg-1 from samples 1 m from the curb respectively. The mean electrical conductivity (EC), pH and total organic matter (TOM) were found to be 304μS/cm, 7.13, and 6.9% from samples near the curbS/cm, 7.13, and 6.9% from samples near the curb and 408μS/cm, 7.13, and 6.9% from samples near the curbS/cm, 7.33 and 5.57% 1 m from the curb, respectively. The results of the geochemical models: contamination factor (degree of contamination and enrichment factor agree to a very high level of contamination and enrichment of Zn in all the sampled sites. These results suggest a high anthropogenic influence on the heavy metals levels.