The Impacts of Automobile Workshop Activities on soil in Ikoku Mechanic Village, Mile 3, Diobu, Portharcourt, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to learn more about how auto repair shops affect heavy metal concentrations in soil, whether or not groundwater is contaminated, and whether or not lower food quality and increased food insecurity are all potential outcomes. Six (6) samples were taken from locations close to the selected auto repair shops (Experimental sites) and locations far enough away from the shops to have no effect on the samples (Control sites).The levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were ascertain with the aid of atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). It was established that heavy metals were generally higher in soils due to the activities of automobile workshop than the areas far away but lead (Pb) values were higher than mercury (Hg) and Cadmium (Cd) values. The mean values of Hg, Pb and Cd are 3.07, 91.03 and 5.63 mg/kg respectively in soils under the impacts of automobile workshops and 0.03, 60.25 and 1.79 mg/kg, respectively in soils far away from the automobile workshop. At the 0.05 confidence level, there was a statistically significant difference in heavy metal levels between the experimental and control sites. The sediments maintained fairly uniform pH value across the top soil. The lowest pH value is 6.94 with prime value of 7.40 as against the control sample’s values of 6.98 and 7.5. The EC ranges from 238.0 to 330.8µS/cm as against those of the control 90.3-149 µS/cm. This clearly shows that the contaminated site poses more electrical conductivity than the control site. Potassium (K), ranges from 15-16.2mg/kg against that of the control samples which ranges from 16.12-16.62mg/kg. The concentration of k is well below the WHO permissible limit of 200mg/kg. Ca ranges from 3.80-21.02mg/kg while Na ranges from 0.98-1.88mg/kg as against the control sample of 19.5-30.66mg/kg and 1.22-1.86mg/kg. Ca and Na content in the analyzed soil samples are within WHO stipulated limits of 75 and 200 mg/kg. For particle sizes distribution, the graphs plotted indicate that the sediments vary from fine through medium to fairly coarse sand.Coefficient of Uniformity (CU) indicates poorly graded sediment.Permeability (k) indicates a low permeable soil. Its indicates very well sorted” to “well sorted” for the sediment.Positively skewed, moderately symmetrical with larger proportion of medium to fine grain materials. Total Heterotrophic Fungi were isolated. Its pertinent that mechanic villages should be in industrial areas away from residential areas, sensitization must be carried out on environmental pollution and waste management while bioremediation of polluted soil using plants should be encouraged.Keywords:Automobile Workshop, heavy metals, urban soils, Ikoku