Cassava Processing and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Soils of the Riverine Community Toru-Ebeni, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Heavy metals in soils with cassava processing activities in Toru-Ebeni, Sagbama, Bayelsa State, Nigeria was investigated. This was intended to determine the relationship between cassava waste (effluents) and heavy metals in soil because of its grave implications on human health. Three sampling sites were chosen. Two of the sites had cassava processing activities while the control site had no cassava processing activities on it. Soil samples were collected in triplicates and analyzed for heavy metals using standard procedures. Heavy metal variables from the three sites were compared by using a one way ANOVA.  The result show that copper (Cu) was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the control soil (O.664±0.02 mg/l) when compared with the  processing sites (1.145±0.216mg/l and 2.143±0.31 mg/l). Similarly Lead (Pb) was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the control (3.55±.030mg/l) than in processing sites (3.817±.050, 33.30±4.73mg/l). Nickel (Ni) was lower in the control (0.430±0.011) than in the processing sites (0.9123±0.02mg/l and 0.62411± 0.12mg/l). Chromium (Cr) was also lower in the control (0.323±0.02mg/l) than in the processing sites (0.923±0.022mg/l and 0.6411± 0.11mg/l). Although the amount of Cadmium (Cd) was higher in the control site (0.08±0.16⁾ than in the processing sites (0.032±.081, 0.043±.091), the difference was however not significant (P>0.05). It can therefore be concluded that the presence of cassava processing activities has a marked effect on the availability of heavy metals in the soil. Effective control of cassava processing activities is important, in order to prevent health, ecological and economic loss due to illness and loss of biodiversity.