Scientific Research Journal (SCIRJ), Volume VII, Issue VI, June 2019 15 ISSN 2201-2796 www.scirj.org © 2019, Scientific Research Journal http://dx.doi.org/10.31364/SCIRJ/v7.i6.2019.P0619659 Heavy Metal Geochemistry of Soils in Selected Industrial and Farmlands of Enugu State: A Preliminary Investigation Iyi Emmanuel Chibuike, Ozoko Daniel Chukwuemeka & Ezeh Christopher Chukwudi Department of Geology and Mining Faculty of Applied Natural Science Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria Email: iyiemmanuel@yahoo.com DOI: 10.31364/SCIRJ/v7.i6.2019.P0619659 http://dx.doi.org/10.31364/SCIRJ/v7.i6.2019.P0619659 Abstract: The present research was designed for the investigation of heavy metal geochemistry of soils in selected industrial and farmlands of Enugu State. Soil samples were randomly collected at depths of 0.5m from 60 sites at dumpsites, industries, wetlands, mechanic workshops, roadsides, animal dungs and river beds during wet and dry seasons using soil auger and polythene bags. The soil samples were analyzed for Fe 3+ , Mn, As, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and Cu using standard analytical methods. The results show mean value of Fe 3+ ranging from 515.62 to 107.8 mg/kg in the wet season and 578.7 to 107.8mg/kg during the dry season. Mn varies between 83.5 - 18.05 mg/kg in the wet season and 101.9 - 18.1 mg/kg in the dry season. As range from 48.35 - 20.9 mg/kg during the wet season as well as 46.97 - 25.25 mg/kg during the dry season. Mean levels of Pb ranged from 106.6 to 51.3 mg/kg in the wet season and 96.1 to 43.8 mg/kg in the dry season. Zn concentration in the wet season varied between 425.05 and 228.95 mg/kg, and is slightly lower than the dry season (432.2 and 190.0 mg/kg), while Cd was found in trace amounts between 2.013 to 0.422 mg/kg in the wet season and is marginally higher than dry season (2.002 to 0.422 mg/kg). The mean values of Fe 3+ , Mn, As and Pb for both wet and dry seasons in the study area have reached pollutant level based on FAO/WHO standards for industrial and agricultural soils. Furthermore, Pearson correlation matrix of the parameters show high positive correlation between Mn and Fe; Zn and Fe; Zn and Mn; Cu and Cd; as well as Cu and Cr for both seasons which indicates the strong relation between these variables and pointed out that soils’ deterioration was associated with industrial and agricultural activities. However, there is a potential risk of poisoning of humans, animals and agricultural produce by heavy metals in the study area. Key words: Heavy Metal, Contamination, Enugu State, Industrial, Soil I. INTRODUCTION Soils are the end point for heavy metals generated by anthropogenic factors (e.g., metal finishing, paint pigment, livestock wastewater, battery manufacturing, leather tanning, mining activities, municipal waste water sludges, urban composts, pesticides, phosphate fertilizers, vehicular exhaust, energy and fuel production, power transmission, automobile mechanic workshops, chemical lumps from industries and factories) and geogenic factors; including parent materials, the chemical and physical soil properties, metal speciation and climatic conditions (Elanzer et al., 2015; Nouri and Haddioui 2016). Soils, especially those found within agricultural and industrial sites are highly contaminated by heavy metals, including arsenic (As), iron (Fe 3+ ), manganese (Mn) cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Human exposure to these metals can cause deadlier diseases like gastrointestinal, neurological, tumor, head stuffiness, muscular, congestion of nasal mucous membranes and pharynx, edema of eyelids, genetic and reproductive malfunctions (Zhao et al., 2012). Heavy metal soil contaminations have become a serious threat to the health of humans, animals and plants (Ahmadipour et al., 2014). The rapid increase in urbanization, industrialization and ever-growing population nationwide in combination with the effects of increasing domestic, agricultural, municipal and industrial wastes has been reported by different authors as prior pollutant which pose a grievous threat to the environment (Kelly et al., 1996; Assah et al., 2003; Adewara and Akinolu 2007; Njoku and Onyeka 2007; Sharma et al., 2007; Osakwe 2010; Ekere and Ukoha, 2013). They also remarked that developing countries suffer from problems arising from industrial effluent and agricultural discharge into soils. Ottensen and Langedal (2001), worked on the chemical composition of urban surface soil in Trondheim, Noway, to determine whether stack emission from industrial sites, incinerators and crematoria, as well as road traffic have caused local elevated concentrations of certain elements. They reported that, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn have contaminated the surface soils in the central and older parts of the city and along main roads. The most dominant sources