Chemistry Research Journal, 2016, 1(4):30-34

Available online www.chemrj.org

ISSN: 2455-8990
Research Article CODEN(USA): CRJHA5

Determination of Heavy Metals in Soil from Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas
of Plateau State, Nigeria

Jonathan Nelson, Babagana Kolo, Bala Usman, Esther Yayi Adamu

Department of Chemistry, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract This study was conducted at Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of plateau state, Nigeria. Soil
sample at varying depth(0 – 10 cm, 10 – 20 cm and 20 - 30 cm)were analyzed for heavy metals. This is to ascertain
the effect of leaching in heavy metals concentration at various soil depths and to understand the phenomenon of
heavy metals accumulation in plants. Soil samples were collected at six different locations (Batura, Mangor, Mbar,
Kirang, Ampang and Bwai) in the two study areas. The samples were digested and analyzed for Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Fe,
Zn and Pb Using standard procedures. The results showed high concentration of metals analyzed, with highest
concentration of each metal as follows; Cr (2.59 ± 0.81µg/g); Ni (3.60 ± 081µg/g); Zn (1.19 ± 0.68µg/g); Cu (1.92 ±
0.03µg/g); Mn (4.79 ± 0.12µg/g); Fe (52.27 ± 2.81µg/g) and Pb (0.45 ± 0.16µg/g). Among all the metals analyzed,
Fe showed highest concentration while Pb showed the lowest concentration at all depth. The values obtained were
observed to be statistically significant at p˂0.05. All values obtained were above the WHO permissible limit,
therefore the soil of Bokkos and Mangu local government areas were found to be polluted at the time of this study
which may lead to possible contamination of plant cultivated on them.

Keywords Heavy Metals, Soil, Mangu, Bokkos

Introduction
Environmental pollution related to industrialization and urbanization is inevitable unless proper measures are
taken [1-2]. Pollution is one of the major problems around the world today in which thousands of millions of world
inhabitants suffer health problems related to industry and atmospheric pollutants [3]. Recent years have
witnessed significant attention being paid to the problems of environmental contamination by wide variety of
chemical pollutants including heavy metals [4]. Soil has been recognized as the major sink for anthropogenic
heavy metal deposition through various pathways [5-6]. The contamination of soil by heavy metals can be
problematic on several levels because they do not degrade biologically [7] and this always result in several soil
dysfunctions leading to concerns about the environmental quality. Metal contaminated soil poses risks to humans
and animals through ingestion of plants that have bio-accumulated toxic metals from contaminated soil [8]. In most
soil environment sorption is the dominating speciation process and thus the largest fraction of heavy metal
in a soil is associated with the solid phase of that soil [9]. Pollution problem arise when heavy metals are
mobilized into the soil solution and taken up by plants or transported to the surface/ground water. The properties of
the soil are thus very important in the attenuation of heavy metals in the environment. The solubility of
heavy metals in soil is controlled by reactions with solid phases [10]. Once sewage sludge is applied to soil,
the heavy metal species undergo several possible fates. The environmental problems with heavy metals are that
they as elements are undestroyable and that most of them have toxic effects on living organisms when
exceeding a certain concentration [8]. Furthermore, some heavy metals are being subjected to bioaccumulation and
may pose a risk to human health when transferred to the food chain. The adverse effect of heavy metals is
inseparably related to the soil’s ability to adsorb and retain sub elements [11]. The pH of the soil play a great
role in mobility of these metals in soil.Solution maintained at neutral to slightly alkaline condition showed low

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mobility of all heavy metals. To increase the mobility of heavy metals, the pH of the soil solution should be lowered.
Indiscriminate anthropogenic activities such as mining on Jos Plateau leads to many part of areas being exposed to
erosion and reduced available arable land for crop production. Toxic metals bio-accumulate in the body via the food
chain. Toxic heavy metals may affect germination, young or old trees stem growth, leaf formation, root growth,
flowering, fruiting, plant growth rate and biomes photosynthesis, transpiration, mineral nutrition and secondary
metabolism. Chemicals come and go but rarely disappear completely from our ecosystem [12].

Materials and Methods

Study location
Bokkos local government area is located in central part of Plateau state, it headquarters is in the town of Bokkos. It
is located at 9o18100” N / 9000´00” E. It has a total area of 1,682 km2 (649 square miles) and a population of 178,454
at 2006 census (NPC, 2006). The people there are mostly farmers and they are also involves in mining of tin locally.
The language spoken by most people in Bokkos local government is Ron.
Mangu (Mongu) local government area is located in central part of Plateau state, Nigeria. Its headquarters is located
in the town of Mangu. It lies at 90 311 00”N / 90106100”E. It has a total area of 1,653 km2 and a population of
294,931 at 2006 census (NPC, 2006). Languages spoken are mostly Mwaghavul and Pyem. Their occupation is
mostly farming and local tin mining. The two local government are, bordered by Barikin Ladi, Pankshin and
Qua,anpan .
Sample collection
Soil at varying depth (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm), were collected from three locations, Mangor, Nbar and
Batura in Bokos Local Government Area. Kirang, Ampang and Bwai in Mangu local government area with a
control farm few meters from the sample area which has less Agricultural activities to serve as control sample, all in
Plateau state, Nigeria. Each sample was labeled with a unique identification number at each sample area. The
sample was collected monthly for the period of three months.
Table 1: Mean concentration of heavy metals in µg/g in soil samples at varying depth from Mangor study area,
Bokkos LGA, Plateau State
Depth Cr Ni Zn Cu Mn Fe Pb
0-10cm 0.63a±0.16 1.47a±0.67 0.12a±0.02 0.44a±0.15 3.20a±1.35 13.98a±0.59 0.11a±0.20
10-20cm 0.68b±0.07 1.55b±0.12 0.17b±0.04 0.53b±0.18 3.37b±1.07 38.16b±1.51 0.37b±0.26
c c c c c
20-30cm 1.73 ±0.83 2.92 ±0.45 0.21 ±0.10 1.92 ±1.03 3.42 ±1.20 49.36c±1.67 0.45c±0.16
Control
0-10cm 0.02 ±0.02 0.05a± 0.05 0.06a±0.01 0.06a± 0.04 0.13a± 0.02 1.20a± 0.11 0.06a±0.02
b b b b b
10-20cm 0.05 ±0.01 0.19 ±1.03 0.09 ±0.03 0.08 ‫٭‬±0.01 0.39‫٭‬± 0.07 3.11 ± 0.14 0.12 ±0.01
c c c c
20-30cm 0.09‫٭‬±0.04 0.21 ±0.11 1.04 ±0.08 0.13 ±0.02 0.81 ± 0.51 5.60 ±1.08 0.17‫٭‬±0.06
Standard 0.3 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1
Values presented are mean ± SD of replicate date. Within column, paired mean with different alphabets are
statistically significant (p˂0.05). Key: SD ═ Standard Deviation, ‫ ═ ٭‬not significant
Cr = Chromium, Ni = Nickel, Zn = Zinc, Cu = Copper, Mn = Manganese, Fe= Iron, Pb = Lead
Table 2: Mean concentration of heavy metals in µg/g in soil samples at varying depth from Mbar study area,
Bokkos LGA, Plateau State.
Depth Cr Ni Zn Cu Mn Fe Pb
0-10cm 0.35a±0.56 1.22a±0.17 0.14a±0.36 0.34a±0.25 0.93a±0.58 22.85a±2.48 0.29a±0.06
10-20cm 0.38b±0.44 1.36b±0.31 0.37b±0.04 0.92b±0.52 2.59b±1.75 25.33b±1.05 0.34b±0.03
c c c c c
20-30cm 0.49‫٭‬±0.51 1.48 ±0.39 0.39 ±0.30 0.98 ±0.31 2.94 ±1.71 52.27 ±2.81 0.37c±0.05
Control
0-10cm 0.02 ±0.02 0.05a± 0.05 0.06a±0.01 0.06a± 0.04 0.13a± 0.02 1.20a± 0.11 0.06a±0.02
b b b b
10-20cm 0.05 ±0.01 0.19 ±1.03 0.09 ±0.03 0.08 ‫٭‬±0.01 0.39‫٭‬±0.07 3.11 ± 0.14 0.12b±0.01
c c c c
20-30cm 0.09‫٭‬±0.04 0.21 ±0.11 1.04 ±0.08 0.13 ±0.02 0.81 ± 0.51 5.60 ±1.08 0.17‫٭‬±0.06
Standard 0.3 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1
Values presented are mean ± SD of replicate date. Within column, paired mean with different alphabets are
statistically significant (p˂0.05). Key: SD ═ Standard Deviation, ‫ ═ ٭‬not significant
Cr = Chromium, Ni = Nickel, Zn = Zinc, Cu = Copper, Mn= Manganese, Fe= Iron, Pb = Lead

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Table 3: Mean concentration of heavy metals in µg/g in soil samples at varying dept from Batura study area,
Bokkos LGA, Plateau State.
Depth Cr Ni Zn Cu Mn Pb Fe
0-10cm 0.32a±0.09 1.08a±0.01 0.81a±0.53 0.90a±0.43 4.30a±0.19 12.40a±0.55 0.22a±0.02
b b b b b b
10-20cm 0.39 ±0.01 1.09 ±0.02 1.04 ±0.81 1.04 ±0.66 4.70 ±0.41 14.55 ±1.31 0.23b±0.02
c c c c c
20-30cm 0.46 ±0.05 1.15 ±0.11 1.05 ±0.60 1.53‫٭‬±0.79 4.73 ±0.12 16.67 ±1.30 0.30c±0.09
Control
0-10cm 0.02 ±0.02 0.05a± 0.05 0.06a±0.01 0.06a± 0.04 0.13a± 0.02 1.20a± 0.11 0.06a±0.02
b b b b
10-20cm 0.05 ±0.01 0.19 ±1.03 0.09 ±0.03 0.08 ‫٭‬±0.01 0.39‫٭‬± 0.07 3.11 ± 0.14 0.12b±0.01
c c c c
20-30cm 0.09‫٭‬±0.04 0.21 ±0.11 1.04 ±0.08 0.13 ±0.02 0.81 ± 0.51 5.60 ±1.08 0.17‫٭‬±0.06
Standard 0.3 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1
Values presented are mean ± SD of replicate date. Within column, paired mean with different alphabets are
statistically significant (p˂0.05). Key: SD ═ Standard Deviation, ‫ ═ ٭‬not significant
Cr = Chromium, Ni = Nickel, Zn = Zinc, Cu = Copper, Mn= Manganese, Fe= Iron, Pb = Lea
Table 4: Mean concentration of heavy metals in µg/g in soil samples at varying depth from Kirang study area,
Mangu LGA, Plateau state, Nigeria.
Depth Cr Ni Zn Cu Mn Fe Pb
0-10cm 0.88a±0.17 1.15a± 0.05 0.20a±0.06 0.29a±0.33 2.01a± 0.96 18.17a±1.78 0.22‫٭‬±0.04
10-20cm 1.36b±0.89 b
2.14‫٭‬± 0.10 0.23 ± 0.04 0.23b±0.07 2.05b± 1.08 27.08b± 2.23 0.23‫٭‬±0.05
20-30cm 2.59c± 0.72 2.20c± 0.09 0.37c±0.11 0.42c±0.07 2.61c± 0.47 42.78c±2.75 0.27c±0.05
Control
0-10cm 0.02 ±0.02 0.05a±0.05 0.06a±0.01 0.06a±0.04 0.13a±0.02 1.20a±0.11 0.06a±0.02
b b b b
10-20cm 0.05 ±0.01 0.19 ±1.03 0.09 ±0.03 0.08‫٭‬±0.01 0.39‫٭‬±0.07 3.11 ±0.14 0.12b±0.01
c c c c c
20-30cm 0.09‫٭‬±0.04 0.21 ±0.11 1.04 ±0.08 0.13 ±0.02 0.81 ±0.51 5.60 ± 1.08 0.17‫٭‬±0.06
Standard 0.3 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1
Values presented are mean ± SD. replicate data within column, paired mean with different alphabets are statistically
significant (p˂0.05). Key: SD ═ Standard Deviation, ‫ ═ ٭‬not significant
Cr = Chromium, Ni = Nickel, Zn = Zinc, Cu = Copper, Mn= Manganese, Fe= Iron, Pb = Lead

Table 5: Mean concentration of heavy metals in µg/g in soil samples at varying depth from Ampang study area,
Mangu LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Depth Cr Ni Zn Cu Mn Fe Pb
0-10cm 0.21a±0.08 0.22‫٭‬±0.03 0.18a±0.08 0.10a±1.39 1.04a±0.06 5.34a±3.03 0.26a±0.07
b b b b
10-20cm 0.11 ±0.03 1.43‫٭‬±0.04 0.19 ±0.06 0.13 ±1.46 1.09 ±0.15 16.44 ±2.18 0.20b±0.01
b
c c c c
20-30cm 0.30 ± 0.30 1.46‫٭‬±0.03 0.21 ±0.04 1.15 ±1.41 1.33 ±0.29 17.58c±3.44 0.19c±0.10
Control
0-10cm 0.02 ±0.02 0.05a±0.05 0.06a±0.01 0.06a±0.04 0.13a±0.02 1.20a±0.11 0.06a±0.02
b b b b
10-20cm 0.05 ±0.01 0.19 ±1.03 0.09 ±0.03 0.08‫٭‬±0.01 0.39‫٭‬±0.07 3.11 ±0.14 0.12b±0.01
c c c c
20-30cm 0.09‫٭‬±0.04 0.21 ±0.11 1.04±0.08 0.13 ±0.02 0.81 ±0.51 5.60 ±1.08 0.17‫٭‬±0.06

Standard 0.3 0.02 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1

Values presented are mean ± SD. replicate data within column, paired mean with different alphabets are statistically
significant (p˂0.05). Key: SD ═ Standard Deviation, ‫ ═ ٭‬not significant
Cr = Chromium, Ni = Nickel, Zn = Zinc, Cu = Copper, Mn= Manganese, Fe= Iron, Pb = Lead

Table 6: Mean concentration of heavy metals in µg/g in soil samples at varying depth from Bwai study area, Mangu
LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Depth Cr Ni Zn Cu Mn Fe Pb
0-10cm 0.24a±0.26 1.28a±0.56 0.60a±0.76 0.27a±0.42 2.55a±1.32 11.40a± 1.50 0.36a±0.05
b b b b
10-20cm 0.32 ±0.39 2.39 ±1.30 0.74 ±0.72 0.67‫٭‬±0.05 2.39‫٭‬±1.11 14.74 ± 0.70 0.42b±0.30
c c c c c
20-30cm 0.11‫٭‬±0.22 3.60 ±0.81 1.19 ± 0.68 0.43 ±0.54 2.68 ±1.54 19.60 ±1.82 0.27‫٭‬±0.04
Control
0-10cm 0.02 ±0.02 0.05a±0.05 0.06a±0.01 0.06a±0.04 0.13a±0.02 1.20a±0.11 0.06a±0.02

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10-20cm 0.05b±0.01 0.19b±1.03 0.09b±0.03 0.08‫٭‬±0.01 0.39‫٭‬±0.07 3.11b±0.14 0.12b±0.01

c c c c c
20-30cm 0.09‫٭‬±0.04 0.21 ±0.11 1.04 ±0.08 0.13 ±0.02 0.81 ±0.51 5.60 ±1.08 0.17‫٭‬±0.06
Standard 0.3 0.02 0.1 0. 0.3 0.1 0.1
Values presented are mean ± SD. replicate data within column, paired mean with different alphabets are statistically
significant (p˂0.05). Key: SD ═ Standard Deviation, ‫ ═ ٭‬not significant
Cr = Chromium, Ni = Nickel, Zn = Zinc, Cu = Copper, Mn= Manganese, Fe= Iron, Pb = Le

Sample Preparation
Two grams of soil sample was weighed into acid washed glass beaker and was digested by the addition of 20 cm3 of
aqua regia, 10 cm3 of H2O2was added in small portions to avoid any possible overflow leading to loss of materials
from the beaker. The beaker was placed on hot plate and heated at 90 oC for two hours. The sample was filtered out
to separate the insoluble solid from the supernatant liquid. The volume was adjusted to 100 cm 3 with distilled water.
The analysis was carried out using Perkin- Elmer Analyst 300 Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).
Data collected was analyzed using (GraphPad InStat 2000).One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by
Turkey-Kramer´s Multiple Comparison was used to assess the variation in concentration of heavy metals, cations
and anions exchange capacity among the varieties. Possibilities less than (p<0.05) was considered statistically
significant. Results were express as mean ± standard deviation

Discussion
This study revealed that, the Concentration of heavy metal in soil samples varies as the depth increase in the order 0-
10cm< 10 – 20cm <20 – 30 cm. It was observed that the concentration of iron in the study areas increases as the
depth of the soil increases, which could be due to leaching. This result is in line with earlier reported work [13]. Due
their bioavailabilty in soil plants tend to absorbed them because they need them for their normal metabolism. Heavy
metals are present in food in very minute quantities; their existence is due to their role in the body metabolism. It has
been established that whatever is taken as food might cause metabolic disturbance if it does not contain the
permissible upper and lower limit of heavy metals. Thus the deficiency and excess of heavy metals (Iron. Zinc and
chromium) may produce undesirable effect [14]. Effect of toxic metals on human health and their interaction with
essential heavy metals may produce serious consequences [15]. It was observed by Uwah et al., (2007);Akan et al,
(2013) [13, 16]. This study showed that, iron (Fe) showed the highest concentration in µg/g at all depths. The
highest concentration of iron in all the soil of the study area was observed in Mbar study area at the depth 20–30 cm.
It was also observed that Batura study area had the lowest concentration of iron.

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