Environmental sustainability and prevention of heavy metal pollution of some geo-materials within a city in southwestern Nigeria

Increased anthropogenic activities may cause the release of potentially hazardous metals into the environment. This is a major public health concern. The study was aimed at accessing ways by which pollution can be prevented with enhanced environmental sustainability in Ibadan, Southwestern, Nigeria. Geo-materials (groundwater, soil and stream sediment) were collected, analyzed for heavy metals using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results of acidity (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solid (TDS) and heavy metals (Zn, As, and Cd) obtained in water were compared with WHO permissible limits. All parameters were found within WHO permissible limits except TDS (624.35 mg/L). Risk index showed dangerous to extremely dangerous. High TDS can be attributed to weathering while high Cd, Zn and Pb in stream sediment and soil are due to anthropogenic effect. Provision of adequate disposal facilities should be created by private and government agencies and the use of it must be enforced.