Characterisation of heavy metal pollutants of soils and sediments around a crude-oil production terminal using EDXRF

Characterisation of heavy metal pollutants of soils and sediments around a crude-oil production terminal using EDXRF

The EDXRF technique was used to measure the concentration of heavy metals in soils, sediment and solid wastes (sludge and scales) around one of the major crude-oil production terminals south-south-west of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. Fourteen elements – K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Ba and Pb – were detected and their concentrations and enrichment factors determined. Very high enrichment factors were obtained for Sr, Zr, Pb, Ba and Fe in all the samples, and also for K, Ca and Mn in the solid waste samples. The high enrichment factors for heavy metals obtained in the soil and sediment samples show that there is a considerable heavy metal pollution which could be correlated with the crude-oil production industry. There is need for a close monitoring of the waste disposal in order to minimise environmental pollution.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

2002-07-01

Obiajunwa, E.I

Pelemo, D.A

Owolabi, S.A

Fasasi, M.K

Johnson-Fatokun, F.O

Journal Article

45ACRNIX

0168-583X

10.1016/S0168-583X(02)00499-8