Determination of Heavy Metals in Soil Samples Along the Shores of River Kaduna, Nigeria

Soil samples were collected during dry and wet seasons from 19 sites along the shores of river Kaduna stretching from Kawo in the North to Kudende, an industrial area in the South. The soil samples were analysed for the concentration of seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, Pb, Cd and Mn) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results show that dry season soil contains high level of Fe and Cd with mean values of 718.37±0.01 and 17.59±0.4 mg/kg respectively while wet season soil contains high level of Fe, Cd and Pb with mean values 737.84±0.01, 18.26±0.08 and 410.66±0.09 mg/kg respectively. However, Pb was not detected in the soil samples during the dry season. The mean values obtained from the heavy metals analysed were compared with WHO and EU standard limits and the result shows that the values obtained were above the acceptable range except for Cu values. This study concludes that soil samples along the shores of river Kaduna are polluted and not suitable for agricultural uses. This is attributed to different anthropogenic inputs such as industrial, agricultural, sewage effluent, burning of oil and tyres, plastics, wrapping, dyes, effluent from food, beverage and textile factories that discharges their effluent directly into river Kaduna