Abstract

Assessment of seasonal variation in physiochemical properties and concentration of the heavy metals in road side soil in Yauri, was undertaking during the two major seasons of Nigeria. This was done to determine the environmental pollution status of the soil at the road side. Soil samples collected during the 2007/2008 rainy and dry seasons were treated and digested using microwave acid digestion methods. The heavy metal concentrations were determined with Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer. The mean levels range of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were 1.15 - 3.14, 0.14 - 7.0,1.64 - 22.36, 4.86 - 29.30, 2001 - 8091, 351.6 - 843.3, 35.9 - 306.7, and 79.6 - 202.4 µg/g for dry season and ND – 13.04 µg/g, ND - 7.02, ND - 13.79, 0.99 - 23.72, 748 - 6000, 201.13 - 507.10, 24.00 - 316.14 and 33.84 - 131.06 µg/g for wet season respectively. When metals concentrations in the soil of dry and wet seasons were correlated (p < 0.05) it was revealed that there were strong correlations between all the metals with the exception of Ni. Generally, higher mean heavy metal concentrations were recorded in the soil during the dry season than in wet season. The analytical results indicated that in both wet and dry seasons most of the heavy metals were above the natural heavy metals concentrations of surface soil which course for concern as these metals can accumulate to pollute the environment.

Key words: Pollution, heavy metals, Yauri, concentration.