Determination of Heavy Metals Pollution in Soil and Tree Rings along Haatso- Atomic Road in Ghana

Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals from automobiles has received much attention in recent years. In this study, heavy metal pollutants in soil and tree rings were determined along the Haatso-Atomic Road in the Greater Accra region of Ghana using X-ray fluorescence. Contamination factor, enrichment factors, geo-accumulation index and health risk assessment model were used for assessing the contamination level of heavy metals. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to investigate the presence of the following heavy metals: Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe and Ni. The data was analyzed using Pearson's coefficient of correlation. Correlation analysis showed that the origin of heavy metals in soil and tree rings are concentrations of Cu, Mn and Cd increase in soil and tree ring as this can be attributed to vehicle exhausts and abrasion of vehicle parts (such as tyres) produced in traffic. According to I-geo's findings, Cd was determined to be unpolluted, while Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Fe, and Ni were found to be moderately contaminated. The Haatso-Atomic Road's soil chemical component enrichment factor data show that anthropogenic elements (such as Zn, Cu, and Pb) were moderately to significantly enriched in comparison to crustal elements. With regards to health risk, the results of this study indicate that non-carcinogenic risks caused by heavy metals were insignificant while the carcinogenic risk caused by Cd was found to be significant. The outcomes of this study will help to guide national policy in the areas of vehicular heavy metal pollution and other anthropogenic causes of pollution.