IMPACT OF CEMENT PRODUCTION FACTORIES ON THE PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL WITHIN PRODUCTION AREAS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, RIVERS STATE, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This present study evaluated the impact of cement factories on the soil physical and chemical characteristics. Soil samples were collected from two cement factories and a control site within Port Harcourt Metropolis. The different physical and chemical parameters were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The mean values of the physicochemical parameters in the soil were thus: pH 7.965±0.256, electrical conductivity 286.3±5.165 μS/cm, total organic carbon 2.971±0.243%, total organic matter 4.23±0.849%, and nitrate 0.709±0.055mg/kg. Moisture content was 14.2±0.061%, clay 20.95±0.065%, silt 17.075±1.50% and sand 63.98±1.615%. The inorganic parameters; phosphate was 2.25±0.125%, ammonia 0.565±0.022mg/kg, nitrogen 1.045±0.05% and sulphate 4.583±0.0345mg/kg. The result of physico-chemical parameters from the control site were thus; pH 6.510±0.489, electrical conductivity 252.4±3.908 μS/cm, total organic carbon 2.701±0.213%, total organic matter 3.100±0.094% and nitrate was 0.631±0.065mg/kg, others were moisture content 16.61±1.025%, clay content 19.35±1.731%, silt content 18.11±1.556%, sand content 62.00±2.224%. While the
inorganic parameters were phosphate 2.105±0.009%, ammonia 0.381±0.003mg/kg, nitrogen 2.201±0.105% and sulphate 3.657±0.211mg/kg. The result showed that the soil contamination due to cement dust reduced sharply with distance from the factories, this suggests that soil samples analysed in the studied areas were a bit contaminated. Therefore, it is recommended that cement factories be moved to places that are far from human environment and settlements.