Evaluating the Physico-Chemical Status of Soils around some Designated Automobile Repair Garages in KHANA, Rivers State, Nigeria

Automobile repair garages are ubiquitous and indiscriminately sited in Nigeria. The spent waste both liquids and solids are generated and disposed-off into the soil from their operations. There is the pressing need to assess the physicochemical status of the surrounding soil that is used as a natural sink. Thus, the study assessed the physicochemical properties soils from selected automobile repair garages in Khana, Rivers State, Nigeria, so as to prevent any potential threat to the surrounding soils. Sampling, preparation, and analysis of surface soils were carried out according to standard methods. The mean results were: pH (6.39±2.26), EC (µS/cm) (84.64±2.38), phosphorus (mg/kg) (9.07±1.06), % TOC (13.56±0.41), % TN (1.59±0.11), % silt (18.21±0.45), % sand (55.75±1.13), and % (26.04±1.44). When comparing the results obtained from the impacted sites with those of the control, it was revealed that the physicochemical properties of the impacted soils were higher. Similarly, these were relatively higher than the result at the control sites. The high concentration was attributed to the activities of the automobile repair garages in the area. It is therefore inferred from the result that the activities of automobile repair garages in the areas generate waste, which alters the natural physicochemical properties in the soils. The citizens especially farmers and other artisans should be educated on the health implications and consequences associated with dumping waste whose chemical compositions may not be known inappropriately, while modern control disposal methods to mitigate the implicit dangers of the current practice are hereby advocated.