Analytical Evaluation of Heavy Metals Obtained from Clay Samples in Ute, Nigeria

Abstract

Clay are abundant, common, inexpensive as well as, they have numerous industrial applications.The presence of these metals in an ecosystem above certain concentration limits constitutes contamination. In this study, the concentration of heavy metals in clay samples was investigated so as to know the level of environmental contribution in order to ascertain the level of contamination. The clay samples were collected from five different locations in Ute Township, a town in Ose local government area of Ondo North Senatorial district of Ondo State, Nigeria. Parts of the sample’s location include places where there are human activities.The result of the study shows that there were no significant differences between the heavy metals’ concentrations and their respective MPL. The research on the five sites investigated (Abekun, Ogwa, Okiti-ota, and Ogudu) have low to normal heavy metal concentrations, which are within the MPL allowable in soil. The abundance of these metals were in the order Pb> As > Zn>Cd>Mn>Se> Cr. Therefore As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se and Cr are not pollutants in the clay samples. Hence, the clays samples obtained from Ute Town in Ose local government area of Ondo state may be said to be uncontaminated due to negligible concentration of heavy metals ascertained by this research. The clay samples are safe for utilization in both domestication and industrialization.