Consequences of the Activities of a Nigerian Cement Industry on the Environment

The cement industry and its products are resources that have an impact on the landscape with dust and noise and disruption to biodiversity, sterilization of lakes and forests. There is also the reduction in populations of small invertebrates and decomposers, of agricultural yields, and extensive structural damage by corrosion from the factory. The industry may create employment and business opportunities in the area they are situated. The aim of the study is to identify the key issues of the environmental pollution and contaminants, the composition of the pollutants and contaminants and hence their effect on living caused by this resource. This study was undertaken at the Lafarge Cement Factory at Ewekoro in South West Nigeria. Samples used in this study were collected at strategic points around the factory. The results from this study showed that the water samples of Ewekoro contained Pb, Zn, and Ni with values higher than the WHO standard values and as such we suggest that the water is not portable for drinking. It is suggested that trees must be planted around the factory to reduce the pollutants. Experimental values of Fe are below the WHO standard (0.300 mg/L) in plants and water samples (0.005 mg/L and 0.030 mg/L respectively) while the values are high in the rock (2.270 mg/L) and in soils (2.720 mg/L) samples. It has been suggested that Montmorillonite ore might be present in the study areas, so we believe that. Montmorillonite could probably be a contributor to the high iron content.