Heavy Metal Contamination of Soils and Vegetation around Automobile Workshops in Owerri Metropolis

The heavy metal contamination of soils and vegetation around automobile workshops in Orji, Alaba Market, Nekede, akwakuma, Naze and Egbu in Owerri, Imo State were investigated using standard methods of chemical analysis and the results revealed that the automobiles workshops in Orji has the highest metal contamination of Cadmium, Zinc and Nickel with values of 0.0225±0.01 mg/kg, 1.3852±1.17 mg/kg and 0.1940±0.64 mg/kg respectively. While Akwakuma has the least metal contamination of Cadmium and Nickel with 0.0038±0.2 mg/kg and 0.0290±0.00 mg/kg respectively. Egbu has the least contamination of Zinc with 0.2455±0.11 kg/mg. The results also revealed that Nekede, Alaba Market, Egbu and Akwakuma have the highest metal contaminations of lead, Chromium, manganese and Iron with values of 0.5100 ±0.15 mg/kg, 0.1963±0.05 mg/kg, 0.4114±0.53 and 27.3597±0.54 mg/kg respectively while Alaba Market, Egbu, Akwakuma and Nekede automobile workshops have the least contaminations of lead, chromium, Manganese and Iron with values of 0.1056±0.08 mg/kg, 0.0374±0.05 mg/kg, 0.0698±0.01 mg/kg and 5.2916±1.09 mg/kg respectively. 0.1536±0.06 mg/kg of Copper was only detected in Nekede while Cadmium was not detected in Nekede and Orji automobile workshops. The observed amount of the metals in the soil samples could be attributed to the engineering activities going on at the auto mechanic workshop area since Zn is used as an additive in most auto lubricants. These contaminants if not properly controlled, could have adverse effect on the environment and as such, government and other relevant agencies should enact a legislature that will control and ensure that these metal pollutions do not constitute threat to human lives.