Copper, nickel and zinc contamination in soils within the precincts of mining and landfilling environments

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 485 - 494
• Main Authors: Ngole, V. M., Ekosse, G. I. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.07.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Landfill; Mining; Nickel; Original Paper; Soil contamination; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Zinc; Dead zones; Contamination factor; Leachate; Geoaccumulation index; Pollution load index
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-012-0055-5

This study determined copper, nickel and zinc concentrations in soils within the precincts of a copper-nickel mining and urban landfilling environments, and used obtained values to appraise the degree of soil contamination and pollution based on geoaccumulation index, contamination factor and pollution load index. Mean concentrations of copper (252.4 mg/kg), nickel (153.0 mg/kg) and zinc (30.4 mg/kg) in soils around the mining area were considerably higher than those around the landfill (4.3, 0.91, and 13.7 mg/kg, respectively, for copper, nickel and zinc). The mining area was moderate to heavily contaminated with copper, nickel and zinc (1 <  I geo  < 4), whereas the landfill area was moderately contaminated (1 <  I geo  < 3). In both areas, the level of copper contamination was higher than that of nickel and zinc. Contamination around the mining environment was attributed to mining activities whereas around the landfill area, migration of leachate from the disposed waste could have been responsible.