Environmental assessment reveals heavy metals and radionuclides exposure in various land-use areas, suggesting monitoring is essential.
This study assessed heavy metal contamination and radionuclide exposure in automobile, industrial, and residential areas in Gboko, Nigeria. The concentration of heavy Metals in the soil of these areas was assessed to determine the presence and activity levels of radionuclides. The evaluation showed the potential health risks associated with exposure to these contaminants and suggested possible remediation and policy recommendations. The study used Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, and soil samples were air dried, while the equipment used to evaluate heavy metals was the Lovibond Tintometer model MD 600. The study used a model equation to analyze the data. Findings revealed that Heavy metal exposure varied across land-use areas, with lead (Pb) levels highest in residential zones (HQ: 0.171) and cadmium (Cd) posing the greatest concern overall, especially in residential areas where the HQ approached 0.380. Chromium (Cr) exposure was most significant in industrial zones, though all hazard quotients remained below hazardous thresholds, while elevated zinc (Zn) levels in automotive workshops stayed within safe limits; radiation levels from Ra-226, Th-232, and K-40 were minimal, with the highest dose in Industrial 1 due to Ra-226 (0.5 Bq/kg) resulting in a TED of 0.2420 mSv/y and ELCR of 0.0847. Nonetheless, all measured values were well below international safety limits, indicating that current heavy metal and radionuclide contamination does not pose significant health risks in the study areas. Proactive environmental monitoring, especially in high-activity zones, is recommended to reduce pollution and safeguard public health.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Msughter et al. (2025) studied this question.