Abstract

Abattoir activities have become a major source of income in recent times with less concern about its negative impact on residential areas. This study is therefore aimed at assessing the impact of abattoir activities on the adjoining soils of a residential area in Ayetoro, Ogun State Nigeria. Three locations around a selected abattoir site were identified for sample collection based on their proximity. The control site is located at about 200 m from the abattoir. The twelve collected soil samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, chromium, lead, nickel, copper, zinc, nitrate, chloride, iron, and sulphate. The result showed that the pH of the soils were acidic while the values of the electrical conductivity, nitrate, chloride, sulphate, iron and zinc varied significantly (p˂ 0.05) across all the selected locations. The highest concentration of Iron (2780.33±20.50 mg/kg) was at S1. Heavy metals (Chromium, lead and nickel) were not detected in all the sample locations. Chloride concentrations were within permissible limits allowed by National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). The result also showed higher levels of copper at S1, S2 and S3 (8.22±0.40, 8.41±0.50, and 4.31±0.40 mg/kg), respectively. The activities of the abattoir impact negatively on the soils of adjoining residential areas. This calls for stricter control measures that should be aimed at reducing soil pollution and ensuring conformity with laid down operating procedures especially when they are within residential areas.