Environmental Impacts Of Automobile Waste Dump On Soil

Environmental Impacts Of Automobile Waste Dump On Soil
Abstract
Difference in soil qualities has been noticeable in many soils due to anthropogenic sources, especially of automobile battery wastes. This study examines the environmental impacts of automobile waste dump on soil. Soil samples for this study were collected in triplicates from three battery chargers’ workshops: Adolor, Edaiken and Uwelu in Benin City, Edo State at 0-15cm depth. The soil physicochemical parameters analyzed indicate variations of values in the contaminated soil over uncontaminated soil (control). Among the parameters examined, conductivity was significantly (P<0.01) higher in the contaminated soil (59.3- 184mho/cm) than in the uncontaminated soil. Notably, a more acidic pH value of 3.7-4.5 was also recorded beyond standard limits of 6.5~8.5. Meanwhile phosphorus was relatively high (1.95-3.35) and nitrogen (0.08-0.15) was low as against the control value of 2.71 and 0.18 respectively. Heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr) and Copper (Cu) were present in different concentrations in contaminated soil sample which ranges from far above acceptable standard limit between (0.288-0.875, 0.757- 1.342, 0.108-0.279, 0.718-1.062 and 0.272-0.518 mg/kg) compared to their values in the control soil sample having 0.003, 0.125, 0, 0 and 0.063 mg/kg respectively. Battery wastes were found to be significant sources of Cadmium and Chromium, as none of both was detected in the control soil sample. The daily activities of auto-mechanic battery workshops have negative impacts on soil physicochemical properties. Note, the soil in mechanic battery workshops needs urgent cleanup to minimize contamination of ecological materials and public health implication. This work will prove valuable in providing baseline information for further soil quality monitoring studies in study area
Table Of Content
Preliminary Page(s)
- Title
- Declaration
- Approval
- Dedication
- Acknowledgement
- Abstract
- Table of Content
Chapter One
1.0 Introduction
- 1.1 Background To The Study
- 1.2 Statement Of Problem
- 1.3 Purpose Of The Study
Chapter Two
2.0 Literature Review
- 2.1 Conceptual Review
- 2.2 Classification Of Automobiles
- 2.3 Components Of An Automobile
- 2.4 Chemical Constituents Of Some Parts Of An Automobile
- 2.5 Environmental Effect Associated With Automobile Waste And Automobile Transportation
- 2.6 Public Health Issues Associated With Automobile Waste And Automobile Transportation
- 2.7 Implications And Prospects
Chapter Three
3.0 Materials And Methods
- 3.1 Study Area
- 3.2 Sample Collection
- 3.3 Physico-Chemical Analysis
- 3.4 Heavy Metals Analysis
- 3.5 Data Analysis
Chapter Four
4.0 Results And Discussion
- 4.1 Results
- 4.2 Discussion
Chapter Five
5.0 Conclusion And Recommendation
- 5.1 Conclusion
- 5.2 Recommendation
- References
Chapter One
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background To The Study
A mechanic village is an area of open land allocated to automobile repair workers in the vicinity of an urban centre. In Nigeria, for example, the mechanic village in Nekede has an area of 136 acres; one in Orji has 101 acres of land, and one in Okigwe has 74 acres of land. A typical city usually has one to three mechanic villages, in proportion to its population and activities, but some cities have more. With the progress of the automobile industries in Europe and the United States moving towards greener electric cars, the international trade in used motor vehicles is likely to increase. As a result, great numbers of used fuel – guzzling cars of all models are expected to stream into developing countries in this first quarter of the century. Urban areas will react to the increased supply by establishing more mechanic villages, and more developing countries may buy the mechanic village concept. The advantages of mechanic village over a city wide spread of mechanic workshops were originally conceived as: to save automobile owners’ the trouble of searching for mechanic specialists, to prevent motorists from falling into the hands of incompetent mechanics and to create opportunities for knowledge sharing among mechanics. They also serve as large scale skill acquisition centres for auto mechanics, auto-electricians, spray-painters, panel beaters and welders, spare parts fabricating and machine operators, spare parts dealers (old and new), particularly since the late 1980’s when the import of used cars from Western Europe and the USA increased dramatically.
Ajayi and Dosunmu (2002) estimated an increase in the importation of used motor vehicles from less than 500 in 1988 to about 30,000 in 2000. The mechanic villages also improved urban aesthetics by removing a large number of degraded makeshift workshops scattered throughout the cities, and removing poorly dressed workers from the public eyes. In addition they provide accommodation for some of the trainees, space for spare parts shops, and restaurants, as well as yards for junk cars and unserviceable vehicles that would have otherwise constituted environmental nuisance in homes and public places.
Despite the numerous advantages, mechanic villages’ projects may not have been provided with sufficient funding or significant attention by the government proprietors, resulting to the poorly infrastruc- tural development. For example, Abdulahi (2008) in analysing budgetary allocations and selected sectors’ contribution to economic development in Nigeria, high- lighted transport sector as central to economic activities and therefore paramount that this sector be given more attention than the government is currently doing. While an automobile engine is running, the motor oil collects particles of heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. Used engine oil or transmission fluid poured on the ground therefore enriches the soil with heavy metals, which can drain into both surface waterways and groundwater. Spilling waste automobile fluids on the ground, and the processes of metal corrosion will therefore enrich the soil with heavy metals. The block diagram (Figure 1) displays several common sources of soil contaminants in a mechanic village. Perhaps the most serious occupational hazard of mechanics is spraying and painting, as mechanics performing this task gets exposed to paint dust and fumes capable of causing respiratory and pulmonary diseases. Fine particles of metal and paint become aerosol, eventually returning to the soil through rain or as settling dust.
The Imo River Basin has been used as a case study to classify the soil in mechanic villages into two broad zones based on their characteristics for storm water management. Zone 1 is predominantly sandy or lateritic sand-loamy soil. Zone 2 is predominantly shale, or lateritic silty clay soil (Onyeagocha, 1980). Zone 3 refers to areas near the boundary between zone 1 and zone 2. The basin is located in the tropical, equatorial rain forest belt of West Africa. Its average maximum temperature is 34°C, and its average minimum temperature is 25o C., with heavy rainfall about 2400 mm/year. This rainfall is especially intense from April through October. Part of the basin is low – lying towards the Niger Delta (the southern flank), and the rest of the basin is a moderately high plain with land suitable for agriculture, consisting of the Imo River and its tributaries. The basin is located in the lower south-eastern region of Nigeria, within the tropical equatorial rain forest belt of West Africa. Part of the basin is low-lying towards the Niger Delta (the southern flank), and the rest of the basin is a moderately high plain with land suitable for agriculture, consisting of the Imo River and its tributaries.
The Imo River Basin has been used as a case study to classify soil in mechanic villages into two broad zones based on their characteristics for storm water management. Zone 1 is predominantly sandy or lateritic sand-loamy soil. Zone 2 is predominantly shaly, or lateritic silty-clay soil (Onyeagocha, 1980). Zone 3 refers to areas near the boundary between zone 1 and zone 2. Its average maximum temperature is 34°C, and its average minimum temperature is 25°C., with heavy rainfall about 2400 mm/year. The rainfall is especially intense from April through October, leaving behind stagnant storm water pools along the poorly developed earth roads of the mechanic villages. Land ownership systems, farming systems, poor planning, and relatively small land mass with high population density and growth, are probably responsible to pockets of farmlands mixing with residential and commercial areas. This situation and poor waste disposal systems enhances pollution risks in the basin. Igbozurike et al. (2009) tested cassava plant tubers harvested from an abandoned sewage sludge dump near Owerri, using AAS, and observed high heavy metal concentrations of 38.25, 138.7, 125.8, 5.50 and 3.60 mg kg-1 respectively for Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd, compared to their background levels. This dump was not active; was abandoned for three year prior to the study, and this may have reduced the concentration levels following diffusion, infiltration, and other bio – extraction processes that may have taken place in the contaminated soil.
1.2 Statement Of Problem
Unorganized, indiscrimate and unscientific dumping of wastes is very common disposal method in many cities which causes adverse impact to the environment (Mahar et al., 2007). Nearly all human activities generate wastes and the way, in which this is handled, stored, collected and disposed of, can pose risk to the environment and to public health (Zhu et al., 2008). Different sources such as electronic goods, used batteries etc, when dumped with municipal solid wastes raise the heavy metals concentration in the dumpsites and dumping devoid of the separation of hazardous wastes can further elevate noxious environmental effects. One of the most prominent soil hazardous waste is battery wastes. Varieties of batteries are found based on the appliances that require it e.g. lead-acid batteries for automobiles. Some cars use more exotic starter batteries—the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS which offer a lithium-ion battery as an option to save weight over a conventional lead-acid battery (Balfour et al., 2011).
Wastes from Automobile Battery Manufacturing Companies (ABMC) are known to release a high percentage of heavy metals like lead (Pb) on soil, the resultant effects also affect the soil physicochemical and its heavy metal properties (Greenpeace 1993; Catwright et al., 1977).
The man-made wastes including automobile wastes introduced into the soil environment amplify the magnitude of the trace element almost to an extent of threatening life and entire ecosystem (Oliveira and Pampulha, 2006). In many cases, the wastes are taken up by roots and shoot of plants and in turn gets into other higher organisms including man when ingested (Kabata- Pendias, 2002). On the other hand, physicochemical properties play vital role in the soil quality and these physical properties include soil color, soil texture, soil structure, bulk density etc., while chemical properties include Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and soil reaction, (pH) (Brady, 1990). The situation where the soil is contaminated by wastes, the proportion of its component is adversely affected, resulting in plants, animals and human health disorder.
Several reports have it that pollution inhibits soil microbial activities but there is scarce information on effect of battery waste contaminated soil in spite of extensive use of batteries and its various activities on soil (Smejkalova et al., 2003). In Nigeria, being a developing country with little or no policy on disposal of automobile battery waste, such adverse effect is almost unnoticed.
1.3 Purpose Of The Study
Hence, the study tends to assess the environmental impacts of automobile waste dump on soil, which will be done specifically by examining the effects of automobile battery wastes on the physico-chemical of the soil.
Chapter Five
5.0 Conclusion And Recommendation
5.1 Conclusion
The automobile battery wastes alter the physicochemical properties of the soil and are direct source of most deadly heavy metals. Hence, these wastes are potential source of pollution and are deadly to human health. The result of this study has confirmed that battery wastes are sources of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) in the soil. All of these are poisonous to human health especially if found in large quantities.
5.2 Recommendation
Soil in automobile mechanic battery workshop requires remediation to minimize soil pollution. The battery wastes can be recycled and properly disposed following the best scientific method.


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