Assessment and modeling of heavy metal pollution of soil within reclaimed auto repair workshops in Orji, Imo State Nigeria

Abstract

The presence and concentrations of toxic heavy metals within a reclaimed section of the Orji mechanic village in Imo State Nigeria were determined using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Multivariate and geostatistical models like contamination factor, degree of contamination, pollution load index and index of geo-accumulation were used to analyze the data obtained. Preliminary soil analysis showed the relative abundance of the heavy metals in the order Cd< Cr< As< Co< Mn< Ni< Cu< Pb< Zn