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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Temporal changes in chemical and heavy metal characteristics of crude oil polluted top soils of Izombe, Southeastern, Nigeria
Ihem, E.E, Aririguzo, B.N, Ogueri, C, Anyanwu, C.N, Agim, L.C, Nwaka, D, Chinnah, U.K, Madu, H.C, Nwaka, S.U, Agorua, U.N, Nwokeke, B.C, Ihezie, C.I, Ndukwu. R. I, Chukwu, E.D, Osisi, A and Chikaire, J.U
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 196-201
Received on: 22/12/2025
Revised on: 14/01/2026
Accepted on: 19/02/2026
Published on: 01/03/2026
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Ihem, E.E, Aririguzo, B.N, Ogueri, C, Anyanwu, C.N, Agim, L.C, Nwaka, D, Chinnah, U.K, Madu, H.C, Nwaka, S.U, Agorua, U.N, Nwokeke, B.C, Ihezie, C.I, Ndukwu. R. I, Chukwu, E.D, Osisi, A and Chikaire, J.U( 2026).
Temporal changes in chemical and heavy metal characteristics of crude oil polluted top soils of Izombe, Southeastern, Nigeria
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 2), 196-201.
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Abstract
Crude oil pollution is a significant environmental issue in Izombe, Imo State, Nigeria, and an oil-producing region experiencing frequent oil spillage in the area. Izombe lies in the northeast of Niger Delta and covers about 59 km2 in Njaba River. The study was aimed at investigating the physico-chemical and heavy metal characteristics of top soils (0-15 cm) depth of Izombe oil spill fields, 2024. A free survey technique was adopted in the field sampling of seven (7) stations (5 polluted and 2 control) in the months of April and June, 2024. Standard laboratory procedures were followed to determine some physical, chemical and heavy metal concentrations of the study area. Results showed that crude oil pollution increased the Electrical Conductivity (EC) by 148% and 290% in April and June respectively; calcium by 209% and 171%; potassium by 208% and 156%; magnesium by 211% and 170% in April and June respectively. Crude oil pollution increased zinc (Zn) by 150% and 142% in April and June respectively; copper (Cu) by 28% and 20%, lead (Pb) by 815 and 89% in April and June respectively. The study showed that crude oil pollution affected most of the basic soil properties significantly and increased with time. Consequently, heavy metal values from the results were found to be below the critical limits, and as such may not pose a serious threat to the terrestrial and aquatic environment. However, standard procedures should be adopted in the oil producing activities to prevent soil and water against contamination beyond permissible limits.
Keywords
Oil spillage, Heavy metals, Permissible limits, Crude oil, Izombe.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
