Heavy Metal Pollution and Soil Health around Local Aluminum Pot Production Sites in Sokoto

Abstract

This study analyzed soil samples from three locations around a local aluminum pot production center in Sokoto, Nigeria, in April 2025. The samples were tested for various physicochemical properties and heavy metal content. Key findings include pH levels ranged from 6.5 to 6.7, organic matter content was between 0.280% and 0.384%, nutrient levels varied as nitrogen found to be 0.07% to 0.081%, phosphorus 3.13 to 3.36 mg/kg and potassium 1.38 to 1.59 cmol/kg. The sodium, magnesium and calcium were found to be within the ranged of 0.65 – 0.74, 0.40 – 0.70 and 0.45 – 0.60 respectively. The heavy metal concentrations exceeded FAO/ISRIC standards as lead found to be 0.085 to 0.165 ppm, chromium 0.4268 to 0.5087 ppm, cadmium 0.0544 to 0.1045 ppm, copper 0.0544 to 0.2932 ppm and zinc 21.4670 to 26.9675 ppm. The study suggests that the soil around the aluminum pot production center poses environmental and health risks due to elevated heavy metal levels.