ABSTRACT
Soil assessment was carried out at Uwelu auto shops vicinity, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, southern Nigeria,with the aim of evaluating the environmental effect of metal scraps, used batteries, spent lubricants wastes known to contain contaminants (e.g Cr, Pb,Cd, e.t.c)which are highly toxic to soil. Uwelu auto-shops and mechanic workshops is located in the Benin Formation. Nine (9) sample points including the Control were profiled at 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15cm and 15-30c, using auger in order to get representative samples. Standard methods were employed in analyzing for the physiochemical and heavy metal parameters. At profile depth 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm, there was significant difference between control and Cr, V, Pb, Cd, Zn and EC. Cd, V, Pb, Zn and Cr and the Contamination Factor value was greater than 1.5 in all the profile samples which translates to Contamination from anthropogenic sources. Pollution Load Index (PLI) of the profiles revealed that the sub soil at 10-15 cm and 15-30 cm where the most contaminated with the highest PLI values. Monitoring and further studies on the level of these heavy metals should be carried out in the near future and at intervals to ascertain long-term effects of this anthropogenic impact.
