Assessing Contamination Levels and Risk of Toxic Elements in Soils from Automobile Workshop Centre in Asante Mampong, Ghana

This study assessed the contamination and human and ecological risk of potentially toxic elements in soils from automobile workshops in Asante Mampong, Ghana. Concentrations were determined using a Varian Spectra AA220 Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean potentially toxic elements concentrations in soils from the automobile workshop Centre had the order: Hg < Cd < Cr < As < Pb < Mn < Cu < Zn < Fe. The mean concentrations of Cd and Pb exceeded the EU guideline limit for Cd (0.35 mg/kg) and Pb (7.2 mg/kg) in soils whereas the mean Hg content was lower than the soil quality criteria limit of 0.3 mg/kg set to protect fauna and flora. The study revealed that the automobile workshop centre is moderately polluted with Cd and highly contaminated with Zn. The Cd levels recorded could pose considerable risks to the ecological environment whilst the other PTEs pose no ecological risks. Cd showed a strong correlation with Pb, Mn and As. Principal Component analysis classified the PTEs into two groups with their sources being the natural geology and vehicle repair activities undertaken at the centre. The concentrations of PTEs measured are not likely to pose non-carcinogenic adverse health effects as the hazard quotients and hazard index computed are all less than unity.